Lifeline offering free tax assistance for Lake, Geauga residents
Jan. 28—For the 15th consecutive year, free tax preparation assistance is available for Lake and Geauga counties through Lifeline, Inc.
The community action agency serves to help low-income families and individuals meet filing obligations, find additional credits and avoid unnecessary costs, in addition to other duties.
The service is available to residents who meet Lifeline's federal income guidelines.
"Many people struggle with preparing taxes," said Executive Director Carrie Dotson. "And people with low incomes really cannot afford expensive advice to get the refund they should. We want everyone to know there is an alternative."
Additionally, Dotson believes Lifeline can help many who may not realize they qualify for the Earned Income Credit, a federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working families and individuals, which Congress originally approved in 1975.
Eligibility factors include how much was earned in 2023 and how many children filers have.
"A lot of families find themselves at a different place, financially, than they were a year ago," Dotson said. "If they earned less in 2023 than they did in 2022, they might qualify for the credit without thinking about it."
Even single adults and couples without children can qualify for the credit, Lifeline confirmed, although families with children receive larger credits.
Earned income and adjusted gross income must each be less than:
—$56,838 ($63,398 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
—$52,918 ($59,478 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
—$46,560 ($53,120 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
—$17,640 ($24,210 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
The maximum tax credit for 2023 is:
—$7,430 with three or more qualifying children
—$6,604 with two qualifying children
—$3,995 with one qualifying child
—$600 with no qualifying children
Dotson noted that millions of Earned Income Credit dollars go unclaimed every year.
"We don't want that to happen in our community," she said.
Lifeline uses trained volunteers certified by the IRS through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Volunteers also assist elderly and disabled people.
"We anticipate a very successful season," said VITA Site Coordinator Heather Martucci, noting the agency will begin preparing taxes Jan. 29. "The IRS manages VITA and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, and the sites are operated by partners like Lifeline."
Through the tax clinics, Lifeline volunteers have prepared filings for over 2,415 residents, totaling $2,988,979 in returns in 14 years, and logged over 5,400 hours in training and filing preparation, officials noted.
Clinics are available on weekdays, except Fridays, and also on Saturdays, by appointment only, through April 18, the agency reported.
Clinics are held at Lifeline's Painesville office at 8 North State Street, Suite 300; the Perry Senior Center; the Wickliffe Family Resource Center; and at Lifeline's Geauga Office at 12375 Kinsman Road, Building H, in Newbury.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 2-1-1 or 440-639-4420.
Lifeline's VITA tax clinics are supported by the United Way of Lake County and through the federal Community Services Block Grant.
For more information, contact Heather Martucci at 440-354-2148, ext. 231, or vita@lclifeline.org.
