Southwest Colorado Community College and Fort Lewis College are partnering with the Denver-based Piton Foundation to help families become more financially secure by providing free tax preparation assistance through the Tax Help Colorado program.
Beginning Feb. 1, IRS-certified Southwest Colorado Community College and Fort Lewis College students will prepare and e-file tax returns free of charge for individuals with household incomes of less than about $50,000 a year.
This quick and confidential service will be offered 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb 13, 18, and 27 at the SCCC West campus, 33057 Highway 160, Mancos. Tax Help Colorado will be in Room 104.
Services also will be offered at Fort Lewis College in Durango from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays (Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1) and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays (Feb. 5, 12, 19 26). The address at Fort Lewis is 1000 Rim Drive, and Tax Help Colorado will be in the Education Business Hall on the second floor.
People who are getting their taxes prepared at Southwest Colorado Community College or Fort Lewis College should bring the following documents:
All W-2, 1099s and other income-related documents.
Proof of mortgage interest, property taxes, day-care payments, college education expenses, charitable contributions, and all other tax-deductible expenses.
For college expenses: In addition to Form 1098T from your college, you must bring your own records of expenses paid for tuition, books, fees and supplies.
Social Security cards (or ITINs) for all family members. Photo identification required.
A copy of last year’s tax returns, if available.
Bank account number and routing number to direct deposit the refund. With direct deposit, refunds are received in 10 to 14 days.
Tax Help Colorado has a presence on 18 college campuses and operates 27 free tax sites statewide. More than 30 percent of Colorado families are eligible to participate in the program, which was created to help alleviate the financial burden of tax preparation on families that are striving to achieve financial stability.
Many of these families are also eligible for valuable tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, and the preparers specialize in ensuring that taxpayers receive the refunds they deserve.
One of the nation’s most successful anti-poverty tools, the EITC helps struggling families make ends meet. In 2013, Tax Help Colorado helped nearly 10,000 taxpayers receive more than $18.5 million in tax refunds, including nearly 6.8 million from the Earned Income Tax Credit. In addition, the program saved lower-income taxpayers nearly $2 million in commercial tax preparation fees.
A list of the Tax Help Colorado sites, as well as locations of other free tax assistance sites in Colorado, is available by dialing 2-1-1 (it’s a free call), visiting www.piton.org/eitc, or finding Tax Help Colorado on Facebook (www.facebook.com/taxhelpcolorado) and Twitter (@TaxHelpCo).