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On April 5, Jovenes de Antaño will host volunteers from Project SCOUT at the Pauline Valdivia Memorial Community Center in Hollister as they combine two things that most people can appreciate: an afternoon of free IRS-certified income tax assistance and complimentary tacos. Tacos & Taxes will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to anyone with a reportable income of $64,000 or less.
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Tacos and Taxes flier. Courtesy of the Senior Council.“We have been offering free tax services in San Benito County since the ’90s,” said Project SCOUT Program Director Eduardo Santana. “This is the first year that we’ve opened it up to all ages as long as they meet the income threshold.”
The service is intended for people with $64,000 or less of reportable income and simple tax needs. The volunteers cannot handle returns involving depreciation, married couples filing separately, or businesses with income losses of over $10,000.
Santana hopes that free assistance—not to mention free tacos—will encourage people to file taxes who may previously have avoided it due to the complexity of the process.
“If you have a tax liability and don’t file,” Santana said, “you could end up with fees and penalties which could be difficult to resolve. And if there are things like stimulus payments, people who don’t file taxes will miss out on them.”
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Tacos and Taxes flier. Courtesy of the Senior Council.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?fit=231%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?fit=665%2C864&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?resize=665%2C864&ssl=1″ alt=”Tacos and Taxes flier. Courtesy of the Senior Council.” class=”wp-image-99155″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?w=665&ssl=1 665w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?resize=231%2C300&ssl=1 231w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?resize=400%2C520&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-03-094023.png?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px”>
To receive assistance, make an appointment by calling 831-724-2606 and bring the following documents:
- A completed intake form
- A Social Security Card, 1099-SSA form, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number provided by IRS
- A valid picture ID, such as a driver’s license or passport
- The most recently completed tax return
- W-2 forms that report employment income
- 1099 forms that report self-employment or other sources of income
- If self-employed, detailed itemized self-employment expenses for the year
- If itemizing, detailed itemized medical, taxes paid on property or big purchases, and donations
- 1098 Payments or other contributions made
- Form 1095 A/B/C reporting your health insurance coverage
Time and volunteer resources are limited, Santana said, and those seeking help should have all of their documentation gathered and forms filled out prior to their appointment.
“We would love to help everyone who needs assistance,” he said “but there is a time limit on our resources. The more our clients come prepared, the more we can do to try to help everybody.”
Project Scout also offers an online self-help resource which allows qualifying applicants to do their taxes for free. The same income restrictions and documentation requirements apply.
On-site appointments can also be made throughout the year to help with late filings or extensions. “Technically, you have up to three years to claim a refund,” Santana said, “but we don’t want anyone to do that. People can also file an extension with us and then call us later in the year to finish filing.”Golden State Opportunity, Assemblymember Robert Rivas, Project SCOUT, and Community Bridges are co-hosts of Tacos & Taxes. It will take place at the Pauline Valdivia Memorial Community Center at 300 West Street in Hollister. Appointments are required, and drop-ins will not be accepted.
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