Go get those taxes filed! For free!

I need help filing my taxes. It shouldn't be that hard, but it is. If you are one of those people who can file your own online, more power to you. I majored in a social science program for a reason. I am great with planning and using resources to suppliment income, but I have been brought to tears by math (algebra homework in college, actually).

Tax returns are awesome to get! yay! My dad has spoiled my fun with it a bit by telling me that you actully lose money even if you get it all back, because the dollar is generally worth less over the course of a year. "Think of it as loaning some of your wages to the government and getting it back when it's worth less then it was when you paid it in." Okay. I don't lose a lot of sleep about this though, as every socialism-loving bone in my body is happy to pay in and have the wealth redistributed based on need, etc. I just wished governing body I am loaning my money to was budgetting as carefully as I would and using it wisely. I would feel this way even if I wasn't getting it back, by the way, as long as it going somewhere need-based.

Anyway, the first few years when my son was born I had a student job on campus. I worked in a work-study position in The Women's Center, and because it was part of my student loan grant and I didn't have taxes taken out of it there really wasn't any earned income credit. However, there was a child care credit of a few hundred dollars which was awesome to get back. I immediatly got into the habit of using this to give my son a nice birthday party as his birthday falls in late April. The first couple years a friend helped me out by filing my taxes online.

I graduated with a BA in sociology when my son was 3 years old and started working in social services in July of 2001. When tax season rolled around I was thrilled with my tax return....woo hoo! I had started using H & R block to file as I knew it would be done correctly and it was initially economical, although the fees grew over a few years. It was then that I started signing up to have them done for free through the Ca$H program (info below). It's staffed by knowledgable volunteers and they have several locations and dates where they do this. The first couple years I ended up signing up at the Portland Public Library, and last year year I had it done at the expo when they were set up there. Don't forget to bring receipts from your children's aftercare programs and summer camps (they only consider daycamps) as these are tax deductible as they allow you to work.

Things I have used my tax return on, in addition to setting aside a little for birthday parties every year:

*2002 planned a trip to Disney with my mom and a freind of hers. 4 of us in one hotel room, with my mom paying 1/2 my son's airfare and Disney ticket.
* 2003 put most down on my car loan.
*2004 paid off remaining amount of car loan, no more car payment! One less bill every month, yay!
*2005 put in 3 month CDs so I wouldn't touch it as I was hoping to move and would need a security deposit. Moved in Dec 2005 and used this then.
*2006 paid off enormous heat bill, purchased washer/dyer (with help from then-supervisor, who's husband had a work related account that allowed me to buy this wholesale under his name. score!)
*2007 not sure exactly. although I did buy fun town/splash town season passes for kid and I, and also gifted boyfriend and his daughter with these as well as a thank you for coming into our life.
*2008 joined forces with cheapskate mother and brought kid to DC over his birthday. (all museums and zoos are free there as they are paid for by taxes).
*2009 Paid off car. Without car payment again! yippee!

I will probably write more about this when I get off my slacker ass and get mine filed.

info on having taxes done for free below:



If you made less than $50,000 in 2009, you might be leaving money on the table. Find out by having your federal and state income taxes prepared for free by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers. You may qualify for up to $5,657 from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Free tax preparation sites can also connect you to free programs and services in the community that help you make the most of your money.

How to participate:

1. Collect tax statements from ALL income received in 2009 (W-2, 1099, 1098, SSA and unemployment).

2. Gather Social Security cards for each person you will claim on your tax return.

3. Dial 2-1-1 (it’s free!) to find a tax site near you.

4. Call the tax site to schedule an appointment: other qualifications may apply (interpreters available upon request).



Thank you to our generous tax season sponsors: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bank of America, Casey Family Services, Gorham Savings Bank, KeyBank and United Way of Greater Portland.