Tax tips for workers in the cleveland area

Accountant Omelia Thornton wants the residents of the working class in the cleveland area and even some inhabitants of the middle class no income tax preparation services, since many of them can do their taxes free of charge.

The Cuyahoga Eitc coalition carries around 20 locations in the district where people can take their income taxes free of charge. The program is only open to Filer that do not earn more than 66,819 US dollars a year. The preparations are from IRS-certified volunteers who have completed special training by the federal authority.

The voluntary Thornton supervises a location at the University Circle and one on the Gordon Square for the non -profit profit The Centers, one of the coalition community.

Free does not mean that it is carried out by any way. Free means professional, respected, and you can keep your entire money – not just something of your money. “

Omelia Thornton, an accountant who voluntarily reports for the Cuyahoga Eitc coalition by heading two of his free tax preparation centers.

Thornton has voluntarily reported to the EITC coalition for 10 years and intended to return again and again, since the program “helps so many people” to pay high tax preparation fees.

“I don't like it when people are exploited, and that's why I continue to volunteer with the program,” said Thornton.

According to Kathy Matthews, a senior program director of the non -profit Enterprise Community Partners, the coalition has been running the free tax preparation program for 20 years, which the coalition has managed since 2006. She said that the free tax preparation service helped more than 200,000 people to attribute more than 271 million US dollars.

The coalition offers free tax preparation because it wants Filer to use the earned income tax credit (EITC), a tax benefit for employees with low and medium income and their families. The tax credit is reimbursable. This means that you can receive a refund, even if you do not owe taxes. The EITC amounts are between $ 632 and 7,830 US dollars, depending on the status of the filer, including the number of relatives and the question of whether they are submitted as a single person or a married couple.

Even if you are not justified for the EITC, the coalition will still carry out your taxes free of charge. Make an appointment at refundohio.org or call 211, a helpline operated by United Way. Filers simply cannot earn more than the 66,819 US dollars, the maximum income that is permitted as part of the tax compensation.

Be patient: don't let yourself be fallen in love with reimbursement loans

“For free, it does not mean that it is carried out by any kind of way,” said Thornton. “Free means professional, respected, and you can keep your entire money – not just something of your money.”

Thornton referred to the high fees that filers often pay for tax preparation services. This includes a short -term consumer loan based on the tax refund that a filer is received. (These are referred to as reimbursement expected loans.) Used car dealers, payday loans and other companies make these loans after creating a tax rate for filers. The draw for many filers is that you can get your “reimbursement” in 24 hours.

A refund with the IRS file's e-file system usually takes a few weeks. Thornton said that the wait is worth it. The reimbursement expected loans often have a variety of fees, including tax preparation fees and services and other fees, which are often taken from 500 to 600 US dollars from the reimbursement check of a filer.

“If you could only be patient, you will be rewarded,” said Thornton about Filer.

Lower your taxes by claiming qualified energy -efficient improvements

Have you made energy -efficient improvements in your home, e.g. B. the installation of outer windows, doors or insulation? You may be able to claim a tax credit of 200 to 500 US dollars, said Thornton.

“Many homeowners don't know about it, and that's why they miss the loan,” she said. “Who can't do anything with an additional $ 300, $ 400 or $ 500?”

Uber- and Lyft drivers: Do you keep all of your tax deductions?

Many people drive for passenger services such as Uber and Lyft either as an ancillary care or as a main source of income. Too many do not take all tax deductions available to them, said Thornton. This includes the mileage, the use of a mobile phone for business, vehicle insurance, car payments and vehicle repairs. A home office associated with driving for a carpool could also be deductible, she said.

“These are just a few editions,” she said. “There are so many more in which they are really not exploited.”

Do not overlook the expenditure for day care for day care

Thornton said that many filers do not know that they can claim daily care costs. For this purpose you need the correct documentation from the Day Care Center. This could be a letter with the a number of the daily authority and the total amount paid.

Thornton said that it is important for Filer to apply for the necessary documents for your free tax date for tax preparation. If filers register for an appointment, you will receive information about which documents you should have. It encourages Filer to fill the recording form online before your appointment. She said that filling out the form initiated this year was for faster and problem -free appointments.

“To be honest, it was a player,” she said.