Latest news with #VolunteerIncomeTaxAssistance
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield Partners for Community Action still serves as the connection place in city
SPRINGFIELD — D.J. Jones, an administrative assistant at Springfield Partners for Community Action, smiled broadly, excitingly relaying how she'd just gotten a new commitment for more donated diapers. She runs the diaper program at Springfield Partners, supplying about 100 families, accounting for 166 individual children each month. 'Diapers are expensive,' said Mickey E. Harris, the executive director of Springfield Partners for the past few months. Springfield Partners is an $8 million to $10 million a year operation, offering home weatherization, tax preparation, financial literacy education, first-time homebuyer classes, veterans programs, SNAP counseling and apartment rental assistance, and is a general one-stop shop for people in poverty looking for resources. 'People come to us when they are in need and frequently frustrated,' Harris said. 'We give them something to help.' These are frustrations that might mount and resources that might become more scarce, given growing needs and uncertainty about the federal antipoverty programs that Springfield Partners manages. 'There are differences in terms of resources and changes in ideology,' said Harris, an attorney before taking over at Springfield Partners. It's also a time for celebrating the career of former Executive Director Paul F. Bailey, who retired Jan. 31 and will be honored at an event on Saturday at the Sheraton in Springfield. The cause for celebration comes at a time of uncertainty, however. J.C. Schnabl, Springfield Partners for Community Action deputy director, said the agency already has lost out on $100,000 in federal money that normally passes down through the state. 'For staffing,' Schnabl said. 'And we are already shorthanded.' Springfield Partners celebrated 60 years in 2024. It was born through the efforts of President Lyndon Johnson and his slate of War on Poverty programs, also known as the Great Society. Those programs called for community action agencies to put those programs into effect in neighborhoods across the country. Springfield Partners was the first community action site to open in Western Massachusetts in 1964, Harris said. And it still serves as a major connection point for people in need. 'Our model is to do everything we can do to fight poverty any way we can,' Harris said. More than 700 households took advantage last year of weatherization and household improvements, said Craig Tomlinson, director of that program. That involves assessing and making improvements. There are programs that provide air conditioners and dehumidifiers, as well. It's funded by the state and federal governments, as well by utilities through their efficiency programs. Taxpayers — 1,123 of them to be exact — came to Springfield Partners for Community Action this spring for help filing their taxes, said Terryl Wilson, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program coordinator. All told, that's probably $1.5 million or more in refunds, she said, as she finished reporting the results for the VITA effort in 2025. 'Tax preparation is very expensive,' Harris said. 'And a lot of people don't know how to do taxes.' Programs like tax preparation also give Springfield Partners a chance to offer other resources. Workers search out people who are eligible but not signed up. Springfield Partners closed its child care center last year and now leases the space to Playful Minds Learning Center. Harris said Springfield Partners continues to evolve. 'How do we encourage people, young people especially, that what they can accomplish is limitless? If you can dream it, you can do it,' he said. And that's going to take collaboration. Not everything has to be Springfield Partners for Community Action's idea or its own program. 'We can jump in,' he said. A Food Truck Festival put on in October by the Indian Orchard Citizens Council is a great example. By participating, Springfield Partners got a chance to reach out to the community and let people know about SNAP, about homebuyer classes, rental advancements and other services. 'We are trying to flow with the need,' Bailey said. 'There is more need and not as much funding to support those needs.' Over 24 years, there was one key lesson, Bailey said. 'Not to judge,' he said. It's tempting to see someone in need, someone in poverty, and see it as a result of a personal choice or failure. 'That is rarely the case,' he said. Western New England University president Robert Johnson stepping down Holyoke Landing, location of Popeyes and Starbucks, sold Howdy Awards honor 10 for hospitality excellence in Springfield area Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive.
Associated Press
16-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Energy for a Better Future: Our Corporate Citizenship Impact
Empowering our communitiesGiving back to our communities, and empowering them, is at the core of our corporate mission. In 2024, our focus on corporate social responsibility made a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers and communities, resulting in an economic impact of $153.52 million across our service area. Our dedicated employees were vital to this success, contributing more than 122,000 hours of volunteer service, valued at $4.09 million. Bill assistance for our customers in needWith 40% of our 3 million residential customers living in poverty, Entergy is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve. When temperatures soared last summer, we donated $3 million to help our low-income customers become more energy efficient and save money on their energy Entergy's Beat the Heat program, our customers received bill payment assistance, fans, energy efficiency kits, home weatherization and invaluable support from localcommunity partners. Free tax preparation for our customersFor more than 15 years, we have provided free tax preparation for our low-to-moderate-income customers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites across our service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Every year, our IRS-certified employees help customers file their taxes and access valuable information on tax credits and deductions they are eligible for, maximizing their tax refunds. In 2024, Entergy helped low-to-moderate-income customersreceive $55 million in federal tax refunds. Of that amount, $21 million were Earned Income Tax Credits. Since 2009, our support of VITA sites has helped return $333 million to nearly 200,000 customers in our service area. The Civic 50 honoree We were honored to be named an honoree of The Civic 50, Points of Light's prestigious annual list recognizing the top community-minded companies in the United States. This is the ninth time we have been included on this list, and we were also named as this year's Utilities Sector Leader for the second year. This recognition highlights our commitment to corporate citizenship and sets a national standard for driving social impact. Read the full report here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Entergy Corporation
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to file for an extension, and other Tax Day advice
NEW YORK (AP) — If you've waited till the last minute to file your taxes, don't panic. You still have time to get it done. And if you're worried that you still might not be able to finish in time, you can file for an extension, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file your return. What do I need to file my tax return? Generally, every tax-filer needs the following at hand — your Social Security number — W-2 forms, if you're employed — 1099-G forms, if you're unemployed — 1099 forms, if you're self-employed — Savings and investment records — A sense of any eligible deductions, such as education expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. — A sense of relevant tax credits, such as the child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. To find a more detailed document list, visit the IRS website. Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, recommends gathering all your documents in one place before you start your tax return, as well as having your documents from last year if your financial situation has drastically changed. Theresa Grover, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, also recommends taxpayers create an identity protection PIN number with the IRS to guard against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return. How do I file for an extension? If you run out of time to file your tax return, you can file for an extension to take more time by using your preferred tax software, with the IRS Free File tool, or via mail. However, it's important to remember the extension is only to file your tax return, not to pay owed taxes. If you owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline to avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you'll still receive your money when you file your taxes. The deadline to file for an extension is Tuesday, April 15, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file. How can I avoid mistakes filing my taxes? Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. To avoid common errors: — Double check your name on your Social Security card. When working with clients, O'Saben always asks them to bring their Social Security card to double-check their number and their legal name, which can change after marriage, for example. 'You may have changed your name but you didn't change it with Social Security,' O'Saben said. 'If the Social Security number doesn't match the first four letters of the last name, the return will be rejected and that will delay processing.' — Search for tax statements if you've opted out of paper mail. Many people like to opt out of snail mail, but paper mail can also include your tax documents. 'If you didn't get anything in the mail doesn't mean that there isn't an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly,' said O'Saben. — Report all of your income. If you had more than one job in 2022, you need the W-2 forms for each — not just the one from the job you ended the year with, said Christina Wease, interim director of the tax clinic at Michigan State University. What resources are available? For those who make $73,000 or less per year, the IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool. Beyond TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the United States. The IRS also funds two types of programs that offer free tax help: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE). People who earn $60,000 or less a year, those who have a disability, and those who speak limited English all qualify for the VITA program. Those who are 60 or older qualify for the TCE program. The IRS has a site for locating organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics. If you have a tax problem, there are clinics around the country that can help you resolve these issues. Generally, these tax clinics also offer services in other languages such as Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. ____ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
The Hill
15-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
How to file for an extension, and other Tax Day advice
NEW YORK (AP) — If you've waited till the last minute to file your taxes, don't panic. You still have time to get it done. And if you're worried that you still might not be able to finish in time, you can file for an extension, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file your return. What do I need to file my tax return? Generally, every tax-filer needs the following at hand — your Social Security number — W-2 forms, if you're employed — 1099-G forms, if you're unemployed — 1099 forms, if you're self-employed — Savings and investment records — A sense of any eligible deductions, such as education expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. — A sense of relevant tax credits, such as the child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. To find a more detailed document list, visit the IRS website. Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, recommends gathering all your documents in one place before you start your tax return, as well as having your documents from last year if your financial situation has drastically changed. Theresa Grover, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, also recommends taxpayers create an identity protection PIN number with the IRS to guard against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return. How do I file for an extension? If you run out of time to file your tax return, you can file for an extension to take more time by using your preferred tax software, with the IRS Free File tool, or via mail. However, it's important to remember the extension is only to file your tax return, not to pay owed taxes. If you owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline to avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you'll still receive your money when you file your taxes. The deadline to file for an extension is Tuesday, April 15, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file. How can I avoid mistakes filing my taxes? Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. To avoid common errors: — Double check your name on your Social Security card. When working with clients, O'Saben always asks them to bring their Social Security card to double-check their number and their legal name, which can change after marriage, for example. 'You may have changed your name but you didn't change it with Social Security,' O'Saben said. 'If the Social Security number doesn't match the first four letters of the last name, the return will be rejected and that will delay processing.' — Search for tax statements if you've opted out of paper mail. Many people like to opt out of snail mail, but paper mail can also include your tax documents. 'If you didn't get anything in the mail doesn't mean that there isn't an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly,' said O'Saben. — Report all of your income. If you had more than one job in 2022, you need the W-2 forms for each — not just the one from the job you ended the year with, said Christina Wease, interim director of the tax clinic at Michigan State University. What resources are available? For those who make $73,000 or less per year, the IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool. Beyond TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the United States. The IRS also funds two types of programs that offer free tax help: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE). People who earn $60,000 or less a year, those who have a disability, and those who speak limited English all qualify for the VITA program. Those who are 60 or older qualify for the TCE program. The IRS has a site for locating organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics. If you have a tax problem, there are clinics around the country that can help you resolve these issues. Generally, these tax clinics also offer services in other languages such as Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to file for an extension, and other Tax Day advice
NEW YORK (AP) — If you've waited till the last minute to file your taxes, don't panic. You still have time to get it done. And if you're worried that you still might not be able to finish in time, you can file for an extension, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file your return. What do I need to file my tax return? Generally, every tax-filer needs the following at hand — your Social Security number — W-2 forms, if you're employed — 1099-G forms, if you're unemployed — 1099 forms, if you're self-employed — Savings and investment records — A sense of any eligible deductions, such as education expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. — A sense of relevant tax credits, such as the child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. To find a more detailed document list, visit the IRS website. Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, recommends gathering all your documents in one place before you start your tax return, as well as having your documents from last year if your financial situation has drastically changed. Theresa Grover, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, also recommends taxpayers create an identity protection PIN number with the IRS to guard against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return. How do I file for an extension? If you run out of time to file your tax return, you can file for an extension to take more time by using your preferred tax software, with the IRS Free File tool, or via mail. However, it's important to remember the extension is only to file your tax return, not to pay owed taxes. If you owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline to avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you'll still receive your money when you file your taxes. The deadline to file for an extension is Tuesday, April 15, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file. How can I avoid mistakes filing my taxes? Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. To avoid common errors: — Double check your name on your Social Security card. When working with clients, O'Saben always asks them to bring their Social Security card to double-check their number and their legal name, which can change after marriage, for example. 'You may have changed your name but you didn't change it with Social Security,' O'Saben said. 'If the Social Security number doesn't match the first four letters of the last name, the return will be rejected and that will delay processing.' — Search for tax statements if you've opted out of paper mail. Many people like to opt out of snail mail, but paper mail can also include your tax documents. 'If you didn't get anything in the mail doesn't mean that there isn't an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly,' said O'Saben. — Report all of your income. If you had more than one job in 2022, you need the W-2 forms for each — not just the one from the job you ended the year with, said Christina Wease, interim director of the tax clinic at Michigan State University. What resources are available? For those who make $73,000 or less per year, the IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool. Beyond TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the United States. The IRS also funds two types of programs that offer free tax help: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE). People who earn $60,000 or less a year, those who have a disability, and those who speak limited English all qualify for the VITA program. Those who are 60 or older qualify for the TCE program. The IRS has a site for locating organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics. If you have a tax problem, there are clinics around the country that can help you resolve these issues. Generally, these tax clinics also offer services in other languages such as Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. ____ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
