NEWS For Immediate Release

Date: March 28, 2012

Contact:  Kathy Day, 229-2470

Maureen Haggblom, mhaggblom@ak.org, 263-3823

 

Anchorage Free Income Tax Preparation Program Is Available to Help Alaskans Meet Tax Deadline

Anchorage, AK –Anchorage taxpayers have just three more weeks to file their Federal Income Taxes, but there is still plenty of opportunity to have them done accurately and free of charge, thanks to United Way of Anchorage and partners like AARP-Tax Aide.

Alaskans can take advantage of the Anchorage Free Income Tax Preparation Program at eight sites around Anchorage through April 17th. Tax sites are located at Anchorage Senior Activity Center, the University of Alaska Anchorage, First Free Methodist Church, Northeast Community Center, Spenard Rec Center, the AARP State Office, Credit Union 1-Mountain View, Crosspoint Community Church and on military bases. Days and hours vary, so check the schedule at www.FreeTaxPrepANC.com or call

2-1-1 to determine the date, time and location that is best for you.

One more Super Saturday event will be held on Saturday, March 31st at Crosspoint Community Church in south Anchorage. Bring the whole family for fun children’s activities, informational booths staffed by community service providers and local nonprofits, free money saving seminars and the opportunity to get your taxes done for free (hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., come early if you want to have your taxes done).  The Super Saturday site is disability accessible and a sign language interpreter will be available throughout the day.

Anchorage residents also can take advantage of the new FAST Tax Site also at Gateway Learning Center, 801 Karluk Street, where filers will have access to free computers and volunteers who can assist them in getting started with filing their taxes online.

The Anchorage Free Income Tax Preparation Program has set a goal of helping 4,500 area residents file their taxes (not counting military bases) in 2012. Last tax season, Alaskans who filed from free local tax preparation sites saved more than $900,000 in preparation costs while being guided to over $1.7 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and ultimately receiving more than $10 million in returns.

Taxpayers have until April 17 to file their tax returns this year because of Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia which falls on Friday, April 15.

Free tax preparation in Anchorage is made possible by a collaboration between United Way of Anchorage, the IRS, AARP Tax-Aide, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), the University of Alaska Anchorage, Wal-Mart Foundation, the National Disability Institute, the faith-based community, individual volunteers, nonprofits and government service providers.

For more details on tax preparation sites, contact Alaska 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221, join us on Facebook and visit the website at www.freetaxprepANC.com.

# # #

About United Way of Anchorage

 

United Way of Anchorage works to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. The goal is to create lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. United Way invites everyone to be part of the change. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED. Please visit LIVEUNITEDANCHORAGE.org.

NEWS For Immediate Release

Date: January 18, 2012

Contact:  Kathy Day, 229-2470

Maureen Haggblom, mhaggblom@ak.org, 263-3823

 

Anchorage, AK – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that 15 percent of Anchorage residents qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) but fail to apply for it when they file their Federal Income Taxes. That’s just one reason why United Way of Anchorage is working with partners like AARP-Tax Aide to offer free tax preparation for qualified Alaskans again this year.

This tax season, Alaskans can take advantage of free tax preparation at eight sites around Anchorage and at three Super Saturday events. For the first time in Anchorage, a FAST Tax Site also will be offered at Gateway Learning Center, 801 Karluk Street, where filers will have access to free computers and volunteers who can assist them in getting started with filing their taxes online. Anchorage Free Tax Preparation Program organizers have set a goal of helping 4,500 area residents file their taxes (not counting military bases). Last tax season, Alaskans who filed from free local tax preparation sites saved more than $900,000 in preparation costs while being guided to over $1.7 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and ultimately receiving more than $10 million in returns.

“The free tax prep program is one way we can help individuals and families get on the road to long-term financial stability,” said United Way of Anchorage President Michele Brown. “Filing your taxes on time, making sure you get the maximum refund and seeing if you qualify for the EITC is critical for everyone, but especially those who are living paycheck to paycheck.”

Most free tax preparation sites will open the week of February 1 in neighborhoods around Anchorage, offering a variety of operation times and days; all eight sites will be open by mid-February. In addition, the first Super Saturday event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, January 28, at the Northeast Community Center (1251 N. Muldoon Road). See the attached news release for a full listing of free tax preparation sites, dates and times, as well as details on Super Saturday events, qualifications, and a list of what Alaskans should bring to the tax preparation sites.

Taxpayers have until April 17 to file their tax returns this year because of Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia which falls on Friday, April 15.

Free tax preparation in Anchorage is made possible by a collaboration between United Way of Anchorage, the IRS, AARP Tax-Aide, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), the University of Alaska Anchorage, Wal-Mart Foundation, the National Disability Institute, the faith-based community, individual volunteers, nonprofits and government service providers.

For more details on tax preparation sites, contact Alaska 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221, join us on Facebook and visit the website at www.freetaxprepANC.com.

# # #

About United Way of Anchorage

 

United Way of Anchorage works to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. The goal is to create lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. United Way invites everyone to be part of the change. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED. Please visit LIVEUNITEDANCHORAGE.org.

NEWS For Immediate Release

Date: January 18, 2012

Contact:  Kathy Day, 229-2470

Maureen Haggblom, mhaggblom@ak.org, 263-3823

Anchorage, AK – Alaskans saved more than $900,000 in tax preparation costs alone in 2011 by taking advantage of free tax preparation sites around Anchorage. Don’t leave money on the table! This tax season, qualified Alaskans of all ages can have their taxes prepared for free by the experts from AARP Tax-Aide at eight locations and at three Super Saturday events around Anchorage. Or those who need access to a computer can visit a new FAST Tax Site at Gateway Learning Center in Fairview, where they can do their taxes for free and computers and volunteers will be available to help get them started.

Details for free tax preparation sites, Super Saturday events and qualifications and what to bring are listed below. For more information, contact Alaska 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221 or visit www.freetaxprepANC.com. Join us on Facebook for other details and tax tips.

- – -

This tax season, eight free tax preparation sites around Anchorage are here to help Alaskans save. They are:

East Anchorage / Muldoon

Northeast Community Center / Boys & Girls Club (1251 N. Muldoon Road)
Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (Starting Feb. 2)

Mountain View

Credit Union 1 (115 N. Bragaw Street)

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays (Starting February 3)

First Free Methodist Church (4607 E. Sixth Ave.)
6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays (Starting February 7) (Sorry, no disability access)

Fairview

Anchorage Senior Activity Center (1300 E. 19th Ave.)
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays (Starting February 2; closed on February 20)

Midtown

AARP State Office (3601 C St., Suite 1404)
1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays (Starting February 1)

Spenard Rec Center (2020 W. 48th Ave.)
1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays (Starting February 7)

South Anchorage

Crosspoint Community Church (1920 W. Dimond Blvd.)
1-6 p.m. Tuesdays (Beginning February 7)

University of Alaska Anchorage Rasmuson Hall
Schedule to be announced

Military Bases

Military members only

FAST Tax Site

Gateway Learning Center (801 Karluk Street)

Do your own taxes for free. Computers and volunteers available to help you get started.

- – -

Super Saturday events are one-stop shops for Alaskans to receive free tax preparation and have access to a variety of financial and social services. There will be free refreshments, door prizes, a coloring contest and entertainment for children. While Alaskans are waiting to have their taxes done, they can visit booths with information about a variety of community resources including credit counseling, loans, scholarships, jobs and housing. Connect with the Food Bank, food stamps, employment assistance, educational resources and others to get started toward a more stable financial future. Twenty minute mini-workshops on  “Dealing with Debt Collectors,” “Student Loans & Scholarships,” Tax and Estate Planning,” “Choosing the Right Checking/Savings Account” and “Using Your Tax Return to Jump Start a Home Purchase” will be held at the top of the hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

2012 Super Saturday events in Anchorage are:

January — East Anchorage / Muldoon

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 28 at Northeast Community Center / Boys & Girls Club (1251 N. Muldoon Road)

February – Midtown Anchorage

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at Salvation Army Anchorage Corps Community Center (1701 C Street)

March — South Anchorage

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Crosspoint Community Church (1920 W. Dimond Blvd. – next to Burlington Coat Factory)

- – -

 

What to know/What to bring

 

We cannot file your return if you or your spouse …

… are self-employed or own a business

… have complicated capital gains or losses

… have moving expenses

… have employee business expenses

… own rental property

Make sure to bring:

Picture ID

Social Security Cards for all family members

Dates of birth for all family members

All income information, including W-2s and investment statements

Copy of your 2010 tax return

Form 1098 (mortgage interest statement)

Child Care Credit

Student Loan interest paid

Education Credit

Contributions to your church or charitable organizations

# # #

 

Last year, more than 300 Alaska residents gave back to their communities as volunteers that provided free tax services by preparing more than 14,000 Federal returns.

Statewide, more than 14,000 returns were prepared, and almost $22 million in refunds were returned to Alaskans. Taxpayers using the volunteer sites saved an estimated $2.4 million dollars in fees.

Volunteer tax preparation kicks off with a Super Saturday on January 28, 2012 at the Northeast Community Center from 10 am to 4 pm. In addition to free tax preparation, there will be IRS staff available to answer questions and a variety of booths with information on housing, education and benefits programs. The Northeast Community Center is in the Muldoon Mall, 1251 Muldoon Rd in the Boys & Girls Club.

View the full Super Saturday Event list here…

View the full list of Tax Prep Sites here…

‪Need help getting your taxes done?‬

Volunteer tax sites across Alaska help people prepare and e-file basic tax returns, and it’s absolutely FREE.  Volunteers receive training and pass an IRS certification test.

For the schedule and location of free tax preparation site near you, please check the schedules on the left, or call 2-1-1 for more information.

Last year, more than 300 Alaska residents gave back to their communities as volunteers that provided free tax services by preparing more than 14,000 Federal returns.

Statewide, more than 14,000 returns were prepared, and almost $22 million in refunds were returned to Alaskans. Taxpayers using the volunteer sites saved an estimated $2.4 million dollars in fees.