[Archived] City of Alexandria Announces Free Tax Preparation Assistance For Qualified Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2009

Begins Saturday, February 7

The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation assistance to qualified residents during the 2009 tax season. Provided by expert volunteers from Community Tax Aid, Inc., this service will help taxpayers file accurate IRS and Virginia individual income tax returns and apply for all applicable credits and deductions, especially the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit. Tax preparation sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, beginning February 7, and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning February 11, through April 15.

The sessions will be held in the lobby of the Alexandria Department of Human Services, 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. Taxpayers will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. Spanish-speaking volunteers will be available on-site, and electronic filing will be available to help taxpayers receive their refunds more quickly. Many low-income working families and individuals are not aware that they may be eligible for the EITC or the child tax credit. Depending on household composition, the EITC can be worth up to $4,500--yet approximately 25 percent of eligible taxpayers fail to claim it.

Taxpayers are eligible for the Tax Preparation Assistance Program if their income is below approximately $22,000 for individuals and below approximately $42,000 for families. Persons requesting the assistance must bring a picture ID, W-2 forms and other income records, and records or receipts for expenses such as child care and/or education. They must also provide social security cards or ITIN letters for all family members and a copy of last year’s tax return, if possible.

Financial counseling sessions will also be available from the Enterprise Development Group (EDG). EDG will provide free reports of individuals’ credit ratings and demonstrate how to build financial assets and learn about basic financial information. A counselor will be on hand to discuss how to build, repair and protect personal credit. Community Tax Aid, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization of accountants, lawyers and other professionals providing expert help to taxpayers in the metropolitan D.C. area.

The Alexandria Department of Human Services building at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. is a 20-minute walk from the Braddock Road Metrorail Station and is also served by DASH transit and Metrobus. For DASH schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit www.wmata.com. In case of inclement weather, the program will be closed if the Alexandria City Public Schools are closed or if school activities are cancelled, as reported on the ACPS Hotline (703.866.5300) and on radio and TV broadcasts.

For more information about the City of Alexandria’s tax preparation sessions, to request a reasonable disability accommodation, or to receive materials in an alternative format, contact Suzanne Kratzok, Coordinator of Community Resources, at 703.838.0762 (703.836.1493 TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the session you wish to attend. The City of Alexandria is committed to complying with the spirit and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act.