Coalition announces free tax-preparation sites in the Valley

Today is Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Economic Opportunity Coalition is announcing free tax-preparation sites throughout the Valley.

People must make appointments to visit the sites, said Ginny Pasha, director of community investment for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

The sites will be at Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business, the Mahoning/Youngstown Community Action Partnership in downtown Youngstown and at all branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, she said.

For a complete list, dial 211, she added.

The United Way also received a grant from the Internal Revenue Service for $24,000 and used it to open four more sites this year, she said.

Those sites are at Neighborhood Ministries on Jackson Drive in Campbell, the MYCAP location in Sebring and the library branches in Sebring and Lake Milton.

The state also has declared today to be Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day.

The credit is for low- and moderate-income families who meet certain guidelines, Pasha said.

The IRS Web site says the credit for tax year 2009 applies if the earned income and adjusted gross income are each less than:

U$43,279 ($48,279 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children.

U$40,295 ($45,295 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children.

U$35,463 ($40,463 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child.

U$13,440 ($18,440 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.