FREE TAX CLINICS

Tri-CAP has set-up FREE TAX CLINICS to help lower-income individuals and families prepare their taxes.  If you are an individual and make $30,000 or less or a family making $50,000 or less let us help you complete your 2010 Taxes.  These walk-in sites are staffed by certified volunteers who offer free electronic filing.  They are especially targeted on helping individuals take advantage of SPECIAL TAX CREDITS such as the:

·         Federal Earned Income Tax Credit

·         Federal Child Tax Credit

·         Federal and Minnesota Child and Dependent Care Credit

·         Federal Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credit

·         Minnesota K-12 Education credit and Subtraction

·         Minnesota Property (renters included) Tax refund

If you are interested in this program as a service or as a potential volunteer please contact: Tri-CAP @ 320-251-1612.

___________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT TO BRING TO A TAX SITE -- INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Here is a list of what you need to bring with you:

• Prior year’s tax return
• Valid picture I.D.
• For each person listed on the tax return, bring birth date and one of the following:  Social Security card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) card or letter
• For direct deposit of your refund, bring a voided check or your savings account and bank routing information

Income statements or forms:

• Wages from each job (Form W-2)
• Interest (Form 1099-INT)
• Dividends (Form 1099-DIV)
• Retirement Plans( Form 1099-R)
• Gambling Winnings (Form W-2G)
• Unemployment (Form 1099-G)
• Social Security Benefits (Form SSA)
• Economic Stimulus Payment Amount received in 2009

If applicable also bring:

• Year-end income statements for MFIP, SSDI, SSI, MSA, GA, veterans’ benefits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment compensation.
• Receipts for education expenses you paid for your children in grades K-12. For example:  tutoring, rental/purchase of musical instrument, music lessons, pencils, notebooks, etc.
• Tuition expenses you paid to attend a university/technical college (Form 1098-T)
• Interest you paid on student loans (1098-E)
• Daycare expenses you paid for your children. Bring provider’s name, address and tax ID or social security number.
• Charitable donations, cash and non-cash
• Homeowners: Mortgage interest and real estate taxes paid in 2011 (Form 1098) and Statement of Property Tax Payable in 2012 mailed to you by the county in March
• Renters: Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) from your landlord

______________________________________________________________________________

GETTING REFUNDS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES: 

Depending on your income and eligibility, you may be able to receive credit for up to 75% of your actual expenses on qualifying educational supplies and fees.  In order to claim this credit at tax time, you must have records (such as receipts or cancelled checks) for expenses.

A few examples of qualifying expenses include:

·         Pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, etc.

·         Instructor fees for after-school and summer educational programs

·         Music lessons

·         Computer hardware or education software

Who Qualifies for the added school supply credit? 

·         Families with 1-2 children in K-12 and income less than $37,500

·         Families with 3 children in K-12 and income less than $39,500

·         Families with 4 children in K-12 and income less than $41,500

·         Families with 5 children in K-12 and income less than $43,500

·         Families with 6 or more children in K-12 and income less than $43,500 plus $2,000 for every additional child

LOCATIONS and TIMES

If you are interested in volunteering please click here.