By Catherine Godbey
Feb. 7, 2010
Senior citizens, disabled individuals and married couples filled a room Saturday, waiting patiently, not for a doctor, but for free tax assistance.
After almost an hour, Jeff Springer handed his financial papers to a SaveFirst volunteer.
“Having this for free means a whole lot,” said Springer, who receives disability. “Medical bills are so high and insurance is so high, wherever you can save helps. This does matter.”
Developed by Impact Alabama, the SaveFirst initiative offers no-cost tax services to households eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The tax assistance serves a community need that has grown annually, said Laurie Lincoln, communications manager for the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama onCentral Parkway Southwest, site of SaveFirst services in Decatur.
Started in 2007, SaveFirst, an Internal Revenue Service-sanctioned operation, has expanded from a two-city operation to 16 sites in 13 cities.
Hundreds in fees
Organizers brought the program toDecaturin 2008 — a program Claire Fuller took advantage of.
“This is my third year having my taxes done here. I used to pay, but I can’t afford that anymore living on Social Security,” said the Decatur grandmother.
According to ImpactAlabamafounder Stephen Black, most households inAlabamapay at least $250 in tax service fees each year.
“For me that’s a lot of money,” Fuller said. “That’s food for a month and probably gas, too.”
In 2009, SaveFirst, statewide, generated $4.7 million in tax returns, saving low-income households $669,000 in service fees. Program officials expect to top those numbers this year.
“On Friday there were more appointments statewide then we have ever had in the history of SaveFirst,” said Ethan Suttle, a volunteer from The University of Alabama.
In Decatur, Lincoln predicts the program will serve approximately the same number of clients as last year, despite operating with a shortened season.
“Last year we went until April 15 and saw a little over 143 clients. This year we are going until Feb. 27,” she said.
As of Saturday, theDecaturlocation had filed taxes for 37 clients with another 40 scheduled, said Meghan Holmes, site coordinator for Impact Alabama.
Along with SaveFirst, Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs in Limestone and Morgan counties offer free tax assistance.
“The need is there. As the deadline nears, lines will start to form at the library to receive the RSVP help,”Lincoln said. “We are not competing with one another. We are complementing one another.”
Although residents are taking advantage of the service, many continue to pay for assistance. Black said about 82 percent of Decatur residents eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit will pay to access the benefit. Springer was part of the statistic last year.
“I used a tax service last year, and by the time I got home I basically had no return because of the fees and charges,” he said.
The ability to receive their returns instantly prompts some filers to hire professional tax preparers and apply for predatory loans. Suttle said SaveFirst offers direct deposit, speeding up the time clients can receive their returns. Typically returns arriving via direct deposit take seven to 10 days, Suttle said.
“The low income population we serve needs that money back quickly for groceries and medical bills,”Lincolnsaid. “One lady called who was checking on her return because she needed the money for food to feed her children.”
By Feb. 27, the last day SaveFirst will provide assistance,Lincolnexpects the approximately 40 college-age volunteers to file more than 140 claims.Lincolnsaid appointments are still available and a Spanish translator will be available Feb. 13 and Feb. 27.
“We are here to serve the community, and any way we can better serve we will,”Lincoln said.
