"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Offers Free Tax Prep Assistance

With holiday festivities in full swing, tax season may seem like a long way off but in reality it is just around the corner. The Cherokee Nation is partnering once again with the Internal Revenue Service to offer free basic tax preparation to taxpayers that qualify for the earned income tax credit.

Known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, the program trains and certifies Cherokee Nation volunteers to do state and federal income tax preparation using IRS training and testing materials. The service will be offered beginning Monday, January 18, 2010 and continue through Thursday, April 15, 2010, at various sites throughout the Cherokee Nation.

“This year we are expanding the number of tax preparers and have added a couple new locations within our jurisdiction because we hope to help many more people,” said Cora Lathrop with Cherokee Nation’s Commerce Group, which coordinates VITA.

Target tax payers are those making $49,000 or less annual income. Tax preparation is free and all returns will be e-filed at no charge. The service does not include refund anticipation loans or rapid refunds, which often are far more costly in the long run due to service charges and incredibly high interest rates, said Lathrop.

“If you have been paying for a quick refund, let us prepare your taxes, wait a couple weeks, and keep your money,” said Lathrop. Taxpayers utilizing the service will need to bring the following:

**A photo ID and social security cards for everyone listed on the return.
**All W-2 forms, 1099 forms, interest statements, dividend statements, royalty statements, and Social Security Income statements,
**All 1098 forms, receipts for child care while they work, name included, address and employer identification number or social security number for the care provider.
**Receipt of real estate taxes paid in 2009; a credit can be taken for real estate taxes paid even if the taxpayer does not itemize their deductions.
**Information on all other income and deductions or credits.
**Proof of account information for direct deposit of refund.
**A copy of last year’s tax return.

Program volunteers also prepare and e-file state returns at the same time as federal returns.

The Cherokee Nation has been coordinating the VITA program for more than 20 years and assisted more than 1,800 area residents with tax preparation in 2009. The program is open to any person residing within the Cherokee Nation that meets the income guidelines.

For more information or to find a volunteer in your area please call 918-453-5536 or go to VITA Tax Prep Flyer.pdf for a complete list of locations.