CHARO Community Development Corporation has been selected to participate as a low income tax center providing education and outreach in English and Spanish on taxpayer rights and responsibilities. CHARO will be offering free workshops and educational seminars throughout 2005 so visit the CHARO calendar page for monthly scheduled workshops. The First tax workshop offered in 2005 is the Small Business Tax Fair taking place on Friday, January 28, 2005.

To learn more, call (323) 343-9477 or email LITC@charocorp.com

OTHER FREE RESOURCES FOR TAX ASSISTANCE:

About the Tax Payer Advocate

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an IRS program that provides an independent system to assure that tax problems, which have not been resolved through normal channels, are promptly and fairly handled. The National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, heads the program. Each state and campus has at least one local Taxpayer Advocate, who is independent of the local IRS office and reports directly to the National Taxpayer Advocate. The goals of the Taxpayer Advocate Service are to protect individual and business taxpayer rights and to reduce taxpayer burden. The Taxpayer Advocate independently represents your interests and concerns within the IRS. This is accomplished in two ways:

• Ensuring that taxpayer problems which have not been resolved through normal channels, are promptly and fairly handled;
• Identifying issues that increase burden or create problems for taxpayers: Bringing those issues to the attention of IRS management and making legislative proposals where necessary.
• Taxpayer Advocate - http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html

About VITA Centers – Free Tax Preparation

The IRS sponsors volunteer assistance programs and offers help to taxpayers in many community locations.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (or VITA), offers free tax help by trained volunteers if you qualify. VITA sites are located at convenient community locations, and volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation to individuals with incomes of $35,500 and below. Volunteers prepare Form 1040A (PDF), Form 1040EZ (PDF), and Form 1040 (PDF) with Form 1040, Schedule A&B (PDF).

Trained community volunteers can help you with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly for which you may qualify.

In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, many VITA sites offer free electronic filing (e-file) . Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper — even faster if you have your refund deposited directly into your bank account.

Learn the locations, dates, and hours of the volunteer sites, by calling the IRS toll-free at (800) TAX-1040 or (800) 829–1040

Learn more by visiting: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc101.html

Other Tax Resources Online:
Government Links:
Internal Revenue Service – www.irs.gov
Earned Income Tax Credit Kit (FREE) - http://www.cbpp.org/eic2004/index.html
Federal Tax Forms & Publications - http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html
California State Board of Equalization - http://www.boe.ca.gov/
California Employment Development Department - http://www.edd.ca.gov/

Non-Government Links:
Free Legal Assistance (Pro Bono Services) - http://www.publiccounsel.org/
Articles on Taxation - http://public.findlaw.com/taxation/
AARP Tax Aide - http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/
Tax101 Advice - http://www.hrblock.com/learning/tax101.html
En Español: California Employment Development Department - http://www.edd.ca.gov/eddespanol.htm
Internal Revenue Service - http://www.irs.gov/espanol/index.html