Wednesday, February 12, 2014

 Our free tax prep service is in full swing! If your household income is $52,000 or less a year, we can file your taxes for free! Thanks to our wonderful trained volunteers for making this happen!
 
 Volunteers offer free tax prep
   Trained Common Heart volunteers are ready to help individuals and families file their taxes!
   Households making $52,000 or less annually are eligible for the free filing service, completed by trained and certified volunteers as part of the national Volunteers in Tax Assistance, or VITA, program. Last year, volunteers prepared taxes for 250 families.
   This is the third year Common Heart has offered free tax services. Residents meet with a volunteer preparer, by appointment only, at Immanuel's Church, 321 Indian Trail Road North, in Indian Trail.
   Volunteer Site Coordinator Susan Ochs, of Marvin, said about a dozen volunteers are eager to help this year. A veteran of the financial industry, Ochs volunteered to help with the program last year after seeing a call for volunteers in a local newspaper.  
Volunteer Susan Ochs

   "I was kind of at that point where I was looking for some volunteer opportunities to give back. Something more than just writing a check," she said. "I enjoyed it. Everyone that came in ... was very appreciative of what we did. It makes the time you put in feel valuable when people appreciate what you do."
   The free service is available by appointment only, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To make an appointment, call 704-684-9007.