Volunteer Tax Preparers

Volunteer Tax Preparers Return $130,000 to Local Families and Economy 

The Volunteer Tax Assistance Partnership of Greater Sagadahoc County completed and filed more than 120 returns for local taxpayers during a recent filing season.  This resulted in more than $130,000 being returned back to individuals and families and to the local economy in its first year of operation.  The partnership is a collaborative effort between community agencies to provide free tax assistance and asset building resources to the residents of Greater Sagadahoc County.  The team of volunteers prepared taxes for low to moderate income individuals and families at Merrymeeting Adult Education in Topsham and The Community Center at Lambert Park in Bath.  

Of the $130,000 in returns, more than $55,000 was a direct result of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that provides low income working families with an additional tax deduction which can be as high as $4,500. Because the service is free, the partnership also helped these tax payers avoid any cost for their tax preparation.  In addition, most returns were filed electronically allowing the money from refunds to be available in as little as 10 days.  These achievements were made possible through hard work of Site Coordinator, Cheryl Black, and nine professionally trained volunteer tax preparers.

“The group is looking expand its services significantly next year,” Said Scott Montgomery, Weed & Seed project coordinator, Volunteers of America Northern New England. “The project is lead by Volunteers of America with invaluable support from the other partners which include AARP; the City of Bath; Casey Family Services; Coastal Economic Development; Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Elmhurst, Inc.; the IRS; Merrymeeting Adult Education; the United Way; and Women, Work, and Community.”

Caption: (Left to right) Lou McDonald, a volunteer Tax Preparer in Sagadahoc County, Cheryl Black, Site Coordinator for the Volunteer Tax Assistance Partnership of Greater Sagadahoc County (standing in rear), and a very happy taxpayer celebrate her savings on this year’s tax return.  

Volunteers of America Northern New England, Inc. is a national, non-profit, spiritually based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. For more than 100 years, Volunteers of America has partnered with individuals and organizations to serve those in need.