Tax season is upon us. Many area residents are anxious to file their federal and state income-tax returns quickly so they can receive the refunds they are due.
The Ohio Benefit Bank encourages folks to "Hang On To Your Refunds" by checking their eligibility to use the OBB's computer-based absolutely free filing service.
If your 2011 household adjusted gross income was less than $60,000, you may be eligible to have a trained OBB volunteer help you complete and electronically file your tax returns. Your household income can include wages, pensions, Social Security benefits, U.S. civil-service and railroad retirement benefits, interest, dividends, taxable tuition payments, unemployment payments, certain gambling winnings, and health savings account distributions. The Benefit Bank cannot assist those who have Schedule C business income, income from rentals or real estate, farm income, tips not reported on a W-2 statement, and capital gains.
The Salvation Army's Minerva/Malvern Service Unit is registered as an official Ohio Benefit Bank site. Beginning in early February, appointments can be scheduled with trained OBB counselors by calling the Salvation Army office in Minerva at 330-868-5808 or by signing up when the office at 301 Valley St. is open, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Appointments will be available through mid-April and are held in a confidential setting at the Minerva Public Library during daytime and evening hours, Monday through Saturday. Applicants must bring all of their 2011 tax information.
This includes wage and all other income statements for each member of the household, and names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for each child and adult in the household at any time in 2011. Those who choose to have their refunds deposited directly into a bank account must bring that account information with them.
Copies of the person's 2010 federal and state returns are also helpful in assuring that the correct information is entered for the 2011 returns.
If the applicant used the OBB/Salvation-Army tax-assistance program last year, and has the OBB card with his/her user name and password, that should be brought along since the same information can be used to complete the 2011 returns.
During the appointment, each new applicant will choose a user name and password and can later access refund information by contacting the Ohio Benefit Bank directly. Refunds are usually received in seven-10 days, if the returns are filed electronically rather than mail.
Once the tax returns are submitted electronically or printed out for those who want to mail their returns, no tax information is retained on the computer at the library, the Salvation Army or the Ohio Benefit Bank.
"Last year, our volunteers met with 43 individuals and couples at the Minerva Public Library and helped them file their federal and state tax returns absolutely free with refunds averaging $1,895," said Pam Hoffmeyer, Salvation-Army service unit director. "We are grateful to the Ohio Benefit Bank for providing both the tax-filing software and the training for our volunteers.
"We deeply appreciate the willingness of the Minerva Public Library to allow us to schedule tax-filing appointments there during its daytime and evening hours. This year, we expect to help even more Minerva and Malvern residents with their 2011 tax returns so they qualify for every possible deduction, income adjustment, and credit, including the often-overlooked Earned Income Tax Credit, and hang on to their refunds."
Fast, safe, secure and free - these are a few of the words that come to mind when thinking about the Ohio Benefit Bank's tax-filing assistance. In addition to one-on-one appointments with trained volunteers, OBB also offers a self-service online edition at www.ohiobenefits.org for those who are comfortable with navigating the user-friendly tax software themselves.
When individuals and families have extra money to spend, much of the time on essential household needs, the stress of life these days can be reduced. This is just another way that the Salvation Army's Minerva/Malvern Service Unit, through its affiliation with the Ohio Benefit Bank, continues to make a significant difference in our communities.
Paula Lane
OBB Site coordinator
Minerva
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