Published: Monday, February 22, 2010
Free tax preparation help in Lynnwood, Everett and Monroe
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Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald
Helen Leinen (center) of Everett gets tax advice Thursday from Ji Kim (left), a volunteer, and Sheryl Sleeper (right), site manager for the free tax preparation program by United Way.
Helen Leinen wasn't sure what to do.
Leinen, 69, recently widowed, was faced with the daunting prospect of filling out IRS tax forms.
“I didn't know what to do about taxes,” she said. “You go page by page and try to read the directions. It's like, ‘Oh, my goodness!' It can be really confusing.”
A neighbor told her about a free tax preparation service provided by United Way in Lynnwood, Monroe and two sites in Everett. It's targeted at low- and moderate-income adults and families but is open to anyone.
Only individual taxes are prepared. There's no service available for people with business or rental income.
The service helps ensure that taxpayers get the tax credits and deductions they qualify for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can be worth up to $5,657 in cash back for eligible families with children.
This is the first year that a full-time site has been set up in Monroe, said Deborah Squires, a spokeswoman for United Way of Snohomish County.
Some people from east Snohomish County were driving to Everett for the service, because that's where they knew it was available, she said. “They don't need to travel that far anymore.”
This is the fourth year the program has been offered. This year more than 100 people are volunteering, including people trained in tax preparation.
Credit counseling and help getting benefits that people qualify for, but may not know about, also are available at the Casino Road and Monroe sites.
Last year, the service helped nearly 1,300 people. The average household income was $22,000.
There are no appointments. The service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. However, appointments can be arranged in advance for translators to help people who are not fluent in English by calling 211, the county's social service hotline.
The busiest times are generally the weekends and in the evenings.
Late afternoons can be busy, too, though, as demonstrated recently at the Casino Road site, where 45 to 50 people may show up in the three to five hours the office is open.
Waits there stretched out for an hour or more. But the payback can be huge. The average tax refund there is $4,500, said Sheryl Sleeper, who manages the site.
It's the second year that Sine Mao, 34, had come there for help. She learned about the service through a newsletter at her son's school.
“I tried it last year and it was quite a success,” she said. She qualified for a $500 refund.
Judy Postma, 71, was returning for the third time.
She's done with trying to fill out her own tax forms — and with going elsewhere to have them done.
“I won't even attempt it,” she said. “It's here, I see I qualify for this and I thought: Why am I paying $250 I don't have to?”
Where to get free tax help
Free tax services are available through April 15 at:
Cedar Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. W., Lynnwood; 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
North Middle School, 2514 Rainier Ave., Everett; 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Children's Village (part of Little Red School House) 14 E. Casino Road, Suite D, Everett; 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Benefits and credit counseling available.
Frank Wagner Elementary School, 115 Dickinson Road, Monroe; 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Benefits and credit counseling available.
What to bring
Valid picture identification.
Social Security cards for yourself, your spouse and your children. If you don't have a Social Security card, bring an income tax identification number.
Last year's tax return, if available.
Bank account information (needed for a tax refund).
For more information on the tax service, or to schedule an appointment with an interpreter for people who are not fluent in English, call 211, the county's social service hotline.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
Leinen, 69, recently widowed, was faced with the daunting prospect of filling out IRS tax forms.
“I didn't know what to do about taxes,” she said. “You go page by page and try to read the directions. It's like, ‘Oh, my goodness!' It can be really confusing.”
A neighbor told her about a free tax preparation service provided by United Way in Lynnwood, Monroe and two sites in Everett. It's targeted at low- and moderate-income adults and families but is open to anyone.
Only individual taxes are prepared. There's no service available for people with business or rental income.
The service helps ensure that taxpayers get the tax credits and deductions they qualify for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can be worth up to $5,657 in cash back for eligible families with children.
This is the first year that a full-time site has been set up in Monroe, said Deborah Squires, a spokeswoman for United Way of Snohomish County.
Some people from east Snohomish County were driving to Everett for the service, because that's where they knew it was available, she said. “They don't need to travel that far anymore.”
This is the fourth year the program has been offered. This year more than 100 people are volunteering, including people trained in tax preparation.
Credit counseling and help getting benefits that people qualify for, but may not know about, also are available at the Casino Road and Monroe sites.
Last year, the service helped nearly 1,300 people. The average household income was $22,000.
There are no appointments. The service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. However, appointments can be arranged in advance for translators to help people who are not fluent in English by calling 211, the county's social service hotline.
The busiest times are generally the weekends and in the evenings.
Late afternoons can be busy, too, though, as demonstrated recently at the Casino Road site, where 45 to 50 people may show up in the three to five hours the office is open.
Waits there stretched out for an hour or more. But the payback can be huge. The average tax refund there is $4,500, said Sheryl Sleeper, who manages the site.
It's the second year that Sine Mao, 34, had come there for help. She learned about the service through a newsletter at her son's school.
“I tried it last year and it was quite a success,” she said. She qualified for a $500 refund.
Judy Postma, 71, was returning for the third time.
She's done with trying to fill out her own tax forms — and with going elsewhere to have them done.
“I won't even attempt it,” she said. “It's here, I see I qualify for this and I thought: Why am I paying $250 I don't have to?”
Where to get free tax help
Free tax services are available through April 15 at:
Cedar Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. W., Lynnwood; 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
North Middle School, 2514 Rainier Ave., Everett; 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Children's Village (part of Little Red School House) 14 E. Casino Road, Suite D, Everett; 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Benefits and credit counseling available.
Frank Wagner Elementary School, 115 Dickinson Road, Monroe; 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Benefits and credit counseling available.
What to bring
Valid picture identification.
Social Security cards for yourself, your spouse and your children. If you don't have a Social Security card, bring an income tax identification number.
Last year's tax return, if available.
Bank account information (needed for a tax refund).
For more information on the tax service, or to schedule an appointment with an interpreter for people who are not fluent in English, call 211, the county's social service hotline.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
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