Hundreds of Coastsiders Get Free Tax Help This Year

Wednesday was the last day for low-income filers to get free help from Coastside Hope with basic income tax return preparation.

Half Moon Bay Coastside residents who make less than $50,000 a year can get tax filing help every year at Coastside Hope in El Granada as well as the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center in Half Moon Bay and Puente in Pescadero.

Coastside Hope provides free income tax returns for low-income filers in partnership with United Way VITA program. Judy O’Leary is the lead tax volunteer who worked with VITA tax volunteer Vicki Taft and assistants Estrella Huerta and Judith Guerrero this year preparing hundreds of free tax returns for neighbors in need.

This year Coastside Hope filed 325 returns for residents with an average income of $16K, according to Keith Terry, Coastside Hope’s Community Development Director.

The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $51,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations.

“In 2012, O’Leary filed more than 300 returns for almost $400,000 in federal refunds,” said Terry, “money that goes into our local economy.”

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