MoneySaver: Free tax prep offered across North Carolina
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- If you need to file your taxes, free help is now available across the state.
"We have different locations," explained Lorraine McCurdy, who is the Program Manager of the non-profit, Family Resource Center of Raleigh.
"We partner with Wake County Human Services," she said. "We're funded by the United Way. We partner with local churches and other community centers to lend us the space."
The free tax service is all part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, operating similar sites across the country.
"We recruit about 28-35 volunteers that volunteer to do the income tax preparation for families that earn about $70,000 and less," said McCurdy.
The volunteers are IRS certified. And, one big change this year that seems to be catching filers by surprise is how the Affordable Care Act is impacting individual filings.
"People have to have health insurance through Obamacare," said McCurdy. "But, we are finding people are either exempt from it because their income was too low or people did not know about it.It could reduce their refund. And, this year the shared responsibility payment is not significant, but next year if people are not getting health insurance like they're supposed to, the impact will be significantly higher next year when they file their taxes next year for 2015."
For those filing for this year, the income requirement to take advantage of free filing sites is $70,000 or less.
"You can use any of the free sites in Wake County," she said.
"We also have partnered with AARP, so those are some of the other sites operating in Wake County, but they service not just seniors they're open to all people."
For more info on free tax filing services in North Carolina or to find a location near you, click HERE.
