Just Harvest Offers Free Tax Preparation for Low- to Moderate-Income Households
Residents Can Have Taxes Done for Free at Southside,
CCAC Boyce and Bedford Hope Center, Hill District
Just Harvest, the Southside-headquartered nonprofit organization that has worked since 1986 to end hunger and poverty in our region, is now offering its annual free tax preparation services to low-income individuals and families at three Allegheny County sites until April 16, 2012.
In addition to sites at Just Harvest’s Southside headquarters and Community College of Allegheny County Boyce Campus in Monroeville, the organization is coordinating a new tax prep site at Bedford Hope Center, 2305 Bedford Avenue, Hill District.
As a lead partner in the United Way of Allegheny County’s Money in Your Pocket Coalition, Just Harvest joins several other agencies and organizations including United Cerebral Palsy, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Family Resources, and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania in providing IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services. In all, there are 13 MIYPC sites located throughout the city and county.
Families with incomes up to $40,000 or individuals with income up to $20,000 qualify for the free tax preparation. Tax clients can receive their refunds in as little as nine days. Those who do not have bank accounts may receive their refunds on a PNC Bank-issued electronic debit card at no charge.
Last year, Just Harvest completed 2,326 returns among three county tax sites. Clients at those sites received a total of $4.6 million in tax refunds. Benefits that clients received under the Earned Income Tax Credit – an important resource that lifts more households out of poverty than any other program – accounted for over $2 million. Coalition-wide, the MIYPC completed 6,114 tax returns and helped return $9.7 million in tax refunds to taxpayers.
If you have received your W-2 forms, you may schedule an appointment at Just Harvest by calling 412-431-8964, at Bedford Hope Center (412-456-5000 x1066), or at CCAC-Boyce (or another Money in Your Pocket Coalition-operated site near you) by dialing PA Southwest 2-1-1 (dial “211” or 412-255-1155). Find site details at www.pghfreetaxes.org. Weekend and evening appointments are available. No walk-ins, please.