The 2011 Tax Season Has Arrived

The Montgomery County Tax Coalition will have a kick-off event at the Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center to celebrate the 5th Annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day and the start of the 2011 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The event will be held this Friday Jan.28, 2011 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Community members are invited to attend!

The Earned Income Tax Credit was created in 1975 to help offset Social Security taxes. It is for working people who earn less than $49,000 per year. The IRS works with more than 60 national partners and over 370 community-based coalitions to offer the VITA Program a chance to encourage eligible individuals to take advantage of the credit. More workers could be eligible for a special tax credit this year and not know it. As a result, they may overlook claiming the EITC, which can put between $2 and $5,600 into their pockets. Changes in people’s earnings, their parental status or their marital status may cause their EITC eligibility to change as well. Many people will quality for the first time this year due to changes in their income. Last year, during the 2010 tax season, more than 200 volunteers in Montgomery County helped to prepare hundreds of returns for families & individuals, returning nearly $3.5 million in tax refunds!

For more information about the IRS and Earned Income Tax Credit visit http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html

Sites that are holding these free tax services are:

Indian Valley Public Library
100 E. Church Avenue
Telford, PA 18969

Daesung (AP) Academy
1256 Welsh Road, #100
North Wales, PA

Encore Experiences
312 Alumni Avenue
Harleysville, PA (for clients 55+)

Montgomery County Community College Central Campus
340 DeKalb Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422

Trinity Lutheran Church
100 W. Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446

Northwestern Human Services
400 North Broad Street
Lansdale, PA 19446

To schedule an appointment at your nearest site call us, the North Penn United Way, at 215-855-3002.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit the IRS Website

Don’t wait in line, go online. Point and click your way through the tax season. All you need is a computer and Internet access because the IRS website has a wealth of free information and online tax support. Here are the top 10 reasons to visit http://www.irs.gov.

1. If you find yourself working on your tax return over the weekend, there’s no need to wait to get a form or an answer to a question – visit the IRS website anytime. The website is accessible all day, every day.

2. Use Free File: Let Free File do the hard work for you with brand-name tax software or online fillable forms. It's exclusively at http://www.irs.gov. Everyone can find an option to prepare their tax return and e-file it for free. If you made $58,000 or less, you qualify for free tax software that is offered through a private-public partnership with manufacturers. If you made more or are comfortable preparing your own tax return, there's Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic versions of IRS paper forms. Visit http://www.irs.gov/freefile to review your options.

3. Try IRS e-file: After 21 years, IRS e-file has become the safe, easy and most common way to file a tax return. Last year, 70 percent of taxpayers - 99 million people - used IRS e-file. Starting in 2011, many tax preparers will be required to use e-file and will explain your filing options to you. This is your chance to give it a try. IRS e-file is approaching 1 billion returns processed safely and securely. If you owe taxes, you have payment options to file immediately and pay by the tax deadline. Best of all, combine e-file with direct deposit and you get your refund in as few as 10 days. More information about e-file is available at http://www.irs.gov.

4. Check the status of your tax refund. Whether you chose direct deposit or asked the IRS to mail you a check, you can check the status of your refund through Where’s My Refund?

5. Find out how to make payments electronically. You can authorize an electronic funds withdrawal, use a credit or debit card, or enroll in the U.S. Treasury’s Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to pay your federal taxes. Electronic payment options are a convenient, safe and secure way to pay taxes.

6. Find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. EITC is a tax credit for many people who earned less than $49,000. Find out if you are eligible by answering some questions and providing basic income information using the EITC Assistant.

7. Get tax forms and publications. You can view and download tax forms and publications any hour of the day or night.

8. Calculate the right amount of withholding on your W-4. The IRS Withholding Calculator will help you ensure that you don’t have too much or too little income tax withheld from your pay.

9. Request a payment agreement. Paying your taxes in full and on time avoids unnecessary penalties and interest. However, if you cannot pay your balance in full you may be eligible to use the Online Payment Agreement Application to request an installment agreement.

10. Get information about the latest tax law changes. Learn about tax law changes that may affect your tax return. Special sections of the website highlight changes that affect individual or business taxpayers.

Remember the address of the official IRS website is http://www.irs.gov. Don't be confused by Internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov.

Reposted from IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service.

Donated Holiday Trees Bring Cheer to Families in Need

For the 20th year in a row, Target stores across the country will celebrate the season of giving by donating decorated holiday trees to United Way as part of the Target Share-a-Tree Program.

This holiday season, United Way volunteers will distribute 2,678 decorated trees—worth an estimated $500,000—to families in need and local partners such as shelters, community centers and childcare programs.

“A single act of kindness is an important step in any effort to improve lives and strengthen and support your community. The Target Share-a-Tree program does just that,” said United Way President and CEO Brian Gallagher. “For 20 years now, United Way has been proud to partner with Target to give lift to this very special program and bring holiday cheer to families everywhere.”

“The holiday season is about sharing with others, especially those in need,” said President of Target Community Relations and Target Foundation Laysha Ward. “With our partners at United Way, Target is honored to continue the tradition of sharing our holiday trees with families across the country.”

Bonds Make It Easy: Tax Time Savings Video

An easy way to save money this tax season is to choose to save a portion of your tax refund in a U.S. Series I Savings Bond.

This bond can be bought in your name, a child's, a grandchild's--up to two co-owners and one beneficiary.

U.S. Series I Savings Bonds are safe, simple, secure, and easily accessible while filing a federal tax return.

These bonds:

• are protected against inflation
• require no credit check
• are available to ITIN holders (those without a SSN)
• free of charges and fees
• pay interest for 30 years
• are redeemable one year after purchase
• require only a $50 minimum purchase

Save for later or for someone else--you can use your refund to buy bonds for someone else this tax season.

Ask about buying Savings Bonds and about splitting your refund when having your taxes filed this year--beginning January 31st, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in the North Penn and Indian Valley area will be offering FREE tax preparation for families who earn less than $60,000 annually.

Visit http://www.mctaxcoalition.com/ for a full listing of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites across Montgomery County.

Video from the Dare to Dream (D2D) Fund's Bonds Make It Easy Campaign. Information from both the Bonds Make It Easy Campaign and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Candy Canes, Mistletoe & Disaster Preparedness?

From winter storms, floods and even pandemic contagion— all disasters have one thing in common: they remind us of the importance of pre-disaster preparedness. But good intentions need to turn into tangible deeds, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, there’s no time like the holidays to start, by resolving to be ready before disaster strikes.

"The holiday season is a great time to give important, inexpensive gifts that say: 'I want you to be safe!' and reduce risk exposure for friends and loved ones," said Murphy. "Gifts that can save lives are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2011. The dialogue and the mindset that goes along with it may mean even more than the gift itself."

The Resolve to be Ready in 2011 initiative is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. For more information on the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.

Emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts this Holiday Season include:

•Portable, battery powered radio with NOAA Weather Radio channels, and extra batteries.
•Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
•GPS units for vehicles.
•Emergency generators.
•Emergency cell phones.
•Carbon Monoxide and Smoke detectors.
•Appropriate fire extinguishers (kitchen, garage, car).
•Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, eyeglasses, extra clothing, blankets, flashlights, spare batteries, heavy-duty work gloves, and sturdy pair of shoes).
•Emergency escape ladders for second-story exit in a fire.
•Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
•Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
•A camp stove with extra fuel.
•The gift of a gardener to cut back combustible vegetation from wildfire-vulnerable homes.
•National Flood Insurance.
Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

PECO To Host LIHEAP Day - Cash available to help customers pay their electric and gas bills

PECO’s low-and fixed-income customers will have a special opportunity to sign up for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants at the company’s Main Office Building on Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

LIHEAP Day at PECO will provide customers who are eligible for LIHEAP cash and crisis grants with application assistance and the opportunity to receive compact fluorescent light bulbs, refreshments and giveaways.

LIHEAP is a Federal program that provides assistance to individuals who are having trouble paying their electric, natural gas or other energy bills. Homeowners, renters, and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Last year, LIHEAP helped PECO customers by providing more than 140,000 grants to 36,000 customers for more than $21 million.

The LIHEAP program provides cash grants up to $1,000 per customer through a direct payment to a vendor, such as a utility like PECO. LIHEAP also has money allocated for emergencies including reinstating service that has been shut off for non-payment, fuel payments, and repairing leaking pipes and broken furnaces. The maximum crisis grant this year is $400.00 per customer.

Customers who are unable to attend are encouraged to visit www.peco.com/help for information on LIHEAP and PECO’s other assistance programs, or contact PECO’s LIHEAP hotline at 1-800-34-HELP-4 for more information and eligibility requirements.

A Day in the Life of Your United Way Contribution

One question that we're frequently asked is what programs and which people in our community benefit from United Way funding. I'd like to take you on a journey throughout day in the life of a typical United Way contribution.

At 6:30 a.m., when most of us are getting ready for the day, a child is eating breakfast at a residential shelter for abused or neglected children. United Way invests in programs that provide child welfare services - helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community every year.

Around 8 a.m., a single mom is dropping her toddler off at an early childhood center. Because it's a United Way agency, she knows her child is receiving quality care and education. And because of United Way funding, she receives a partial scholarship to help cover the cost of the center.

It's noon, and as you and I sit down to enjoy our lunch, homebound seniors are also receiving nutritious meals and a visit from a volunteer who cares. Senior citizens get help every year from United Way through recreational programs, respite care, transportation, at-home care, independent living centers and more.

At 1:30 p.m., a man with a disability starts his occupational therapy session. He's one of nearly 50,000 people that received help annually through the North Penn United Way.

At 3:30 p.m., a teenager has arrived at an afterschool program where she'll get tutoring, a healthy snack, fun activities and safe, responsible supervision. Did you know that United Way funds youth development programs here in our community?

It's 5:30 p.m., and a woman diagnosed with cancer is attending her first support session. Her kids are next door, talking with other children whose parents have cancer. All around our hometowns, people dealing with health challenges are getting education and hope, thanks to United Way.

It's 7 p.m., and a counseling session is underway for a family with a child facing behavioral issues. United Way supports dozens of programs that provide counseling for mental illness, addiction, emotional difficulties and more.

It's 9 p.m., and a family is going to bed tonight with full stomachs - because their dad stopped by a food pantry on his way home from work. Every year, United Way invests in nonprofits and programs that help families to meet basic needs.

Even in the middle of the night, your contribution is helping in the community. United Way and its partners are there to help families get back on their feet after they've faced devastating loss in the form of a house fire.

Your generosity makes days like this possible! Instead of focusing on one cause, we support over 35 nonprofits to help the community as a whole. In fact, 1 in 4 of us are helped by United Way each year. Thank you for all that you do to LIVE UNITED!