Free tax assistance available for most households earning less than $60,000 annually

Free tax assistance available for most households earning less than $60,000 annually 

  

Tax season is quickly approaching, and thousands of Ohioans will soon begin the filing process to ensure that they receive their refunds. To save taxpayers a little extra money this year, when individuals and families can use every extra dollar, the Highland County Office of Reentry Services is partnering with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) to help low- and moderate-income Ohioans obtain free Federal and State income tax return assistance and to identify if they are eligible for other work support benefits. 

  

Free tax assistance is provided through Highland County’s newest Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) site, the Highland County Office of Reentry Services. In addition to providing tax filing assistance using OBB’s online service, low- and moderate-income Ohioans can be connected to potential work supports, such as health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies and food assistance. 

  

Eligible individuals can obtain free tax assistance by attending one of many sessions that are currently being offered by the Office of Reentry Services staff; sessions are offered at the Highland County One-Stop Employment & Training Center at various dates and times, beginning January 19th. Call 937-393-9266 to schedule an appointment to participate in this free, tax filing service. Staff are available not only to help individuals and families prepare and electronically file their taxes, but also enable Ohioans to claim all credits for which they are eligible, at no cost, as well as review potential eligibility for other community supports. If clients choose to use direct deposit, they can receive their refund in as few as seven to 10 days. 

  

Trained counselors at Benefit Bank sites and clinics throughout the state will help Ohioans prepare and file their tax returns at no cost if they meet the income eligibility requirement of less than $60,000 per year in household income. If eligible, clients can also claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a special tax refund program for working families and individuals. 

  

Don’t miss out on receiving free tax assistance! Each year, individuals and families find themselves paying someone to do their taxes when they could have received valuable services absolutely free of charge, all because they didn’t know it was available or they didn’t know where to go for this assistance. Tax Filing sessions will be offered throughout the next few months and space is limited, so call now to register! Rhonda Fannin, Director of the Highland County Office of Reentry Services is very excited that she and her staff, as one of two new Ohio Benefit Bank sites, are available to assist Highland County residents with assessing available resources for themselves and their families. Residents are being urged to participate in a free tax session so they don’t miss out on potential benefits and tax savings this year.

  

Not only can Ohioans obtain free tax assistance using The Ohio Benefit Bank, but they can also establish their eligibility for health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies, food assistance and many other programs. 

  

Each year, more than $1.7 billion dollars in tax credits and other supports go unclaimed by eligible Ohioans who do not apply for it. For the Earned Income Tax Credit alone, at least one in every four taxpayers who is eligible fails to claim the credit. More than 95 percent of these unclaimed funds are federal dollars. Claiming these dollars will not only bring more dollars to Highland County, but also bring more federal money to Ohio, therefore helping to boost the economy.

For more information or to register for an upcoming session, call 1-937-393-9266.

About the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks

OASHF is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger, representing Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks and 3,000 member charities including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In SFY 2010, OASHF and its member foodbanks were able to acquire and distribute over 124 million pounds of food and grocery items.

 

About the Highland County Office of Reentry Services

The HCORS strives to ensure successful offender reentry to Highland County, to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety through collaboration and efficient use of resources. It is our goal is to demonstrate benefits of alternatives to incarceration and successful transition of offenders to contributing members of our community. The Office of Reentry Services uses a holistic approach that begins with law enforcement, corrections and the court system in collaborative efforts with education, families, health services, substance abuse, employment, housing and faith based entities to reduce recidivism in Highland County by providing resources, opportunities and support for successful transitions to those with or at-risk of having a criminal justice background. By offering services supported by the Ohio Benefit Bank, it is our desire to serve individuals and families in the most efficient way possible, by providing opportunities for free tax filing, completion of the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA), and other application completion assistance for work support benefits such as Child Care Subsidies, Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Nutrition Programs, Health Coverage, Medicare Rx Extra Help, Senior Community Service Employment, Golden Buckeye, Medicare Savings Programs, Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance and Cash Assistance. 

  

Highland County Office of Reentry Services Director, 1-937-393-9266.

Tax season is quickly approaching, and thousands of Ohioans will soon begin the filing process to ensure that they receive their refunds. To save taxpayers a little extra money this year, when individuals and families can use every extra dollar, the Highland County Office of Reentry Services is partnering with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) to help low- and moderate-income Ohioans obtain free Federal and State income tax return assistance and to identify if they are eligible for other work support benefits. 

  

Free tax assistance is provided through Highland County’s newest Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) site, the Highland County Office of Reentry Services. In addition to providing tax filing assistance using OBB’s online service, low- and moderate-income Ohioans can be connected to potential work supports, such as health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies and food assistance. 

  

Eligible individuals can obtain free tax assistance by attending one of many sessions that are currently being offered by the Office of Reentry Services staff; sessions are offered at the Highland County One-Stop Employment & Training Center at various dates and times, beginning January 19th. Call 937-393-9266 to schedule an appointment to participate in this free, tax filing service. Staff are available not only to help individuals and families prepare and electronically file their taxes, but also enable Ohioans to claim all credits for which they are eligible, at no cost, as well as review potential eligibility for other community supports. If clients choose to use direct deposit, they can receive their refund in as few as seven to 10 days. 

  

Trained counselors at Benefit Bank sites and clinics throughout the state will help Ohioans prepare and file their tax returns at no cost if they meet the income eligibility requirement of less than $60,000 per year in household income. If eligible, clients can also claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a special tax refund program for working families and individuals. 

  

Don’t miss out on receiving free tax assistance! Each year, individuals and families find themselves paying someone to do their taxes when they could have received valuable services absolutely free of charge, all because they didn’t know it was available or they didn’t know where to go for this assistance. Tax Filing sessions will be offered throughout the next few months and space is limited, so call now to register! Rhonda Fannin, Director of the Highland County Office of Reentry Services is very excited that she and her staff, as one of two new Ohio Benefit Bank sites, are available to assist Highland County residents with assessing available resources for themselves and their families. Residents are being urged to participate in a free tax session so they don’t miss out on potential benefits and tax savings this year.

  

Not only can Ohioans obtain free tax assistance using The Ohio Benefit Bank, but they can also establish their eligibility for health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies, food assistance and many other programs. 

  

Each year, more than $1.7 billion dollars in tax credits and other supports go unclaimed by eligible Ohioans who do not apply for it. For the Earned Income Tax Credit alone, at least one in every four taxpayers who is eligible fails to claim the credit. More than 95 percent of these unclaimed funds are federal dollars. Claiming these dollars will not only bring more dollars to Highland County, but also bring more federal money to Ohio, therefore helping to boost the economy.

For more information or to register for an upcoming session, call 1-937-393-9266.

OASHF is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger, representing Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks and 3,000 member charities including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In SFY 2010, OASHF and its member foodbanks were able to acquire and distribute over 124 million pounds of food and grocery items.

 

About the Highland County Office of Reentry Services

The HCORS strives to ensure successful offender reentry to Highland County, to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety through collaboration and efficient use of resources. It is our goal is to demonstrate benefits of alternatives to incarceration and successful transition of offenders to contributing members of our community. The Office of Reentry Services uses a holistic approach that begins with law enforcement, corrections and the court system in collaborative efforts with education, families, health services, substance abuse, employment, housing and faith based entities to reduce recidivism in Highland County by providing resources, opportunities and support for successful transitions to those with or at-risk of having a criminal justice background. By offering services supported by the Ohio Benefit Bank, it is our desire to serve individuals and families in the most efficient way possible, by providing opportunities for free tax filing, completion of the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA), and other application completion assistance for work support benefits such as Child Care Subsidies, Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Nutrition Programs, Health Coverage, Medicare Rx Extra Help, Senior Community Service Employment, Golden Buckeye, Medicare Savings Programs, Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance and Cash Assistance. 

  

Highland County Office of Reentry Services Director, 1-937-393-9266.