By Colleen Reynolds Associate Director Alumni Relations-Community Outreach
Heartland Community College
Taxes can be confusing. But with expert help, filing taxes can actually get you ahead. That is, if you are due a tax refund. If you file a complete and accurate tax return, your refund will be issued within six weeks from the received date according to the Internal Revenue Service web site. If you file electronically, refund checks will be issued within three weeks from the filing date.
If you are overwhelmed by the prospect of filling out your own forms and you can’t afford tax preparation services, there is help available at Heartland Community College in Normal and at other Central Illinois sites. The Center for Economic Progress has partnered with HCC and other locations to open tax preparation sites for free tax preparation services for those who meet the guidelines. Last year, the Heartland site served 290 taxpayers, saving an estimated $25,000-$40,000 in tax preparation fees.
This year, Heartland Community College is taking over the Friday daytime hours that were available in the past at the Normal Senior Center at One Normal Plaza. Accounting Professor Betty Pilchard says it’s a wonderful partnership. “Providing facilities for the community tax services is a natural fit for HCC’s students, our communities and our facilities,” Pilchard said. “My goal is that through our expanded services, volunteers will be able to assist more than 750 taxpayers file their tax returns on time.”
Services are free to:
- Families with incomes of less than $55,000
- Individuals with incomes of less than $30,000
What to bring:
- All W-2’s and 1099s (if any)
- Photo ID
- Social Security Cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers for all family members
- Copy of last year’s tax return if available
- Property tax bill
- Amount spent on college expenses
- Bank account number and routing number to direct deposit your refund
Visit the Center for Economic Progress’ community tax sites open from January 22 through April 14, 2010 to have your taxes filed confidentially, fast, and free by a certified volunteer at:
Heartland Community College’s Workforce Development Center Room 3602
1500 W. Raab Road, Normal
Tuesday, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
There are two other sites for free tax prep services in Bloomington.
Bloomington Housing Authority
104 E. Wood Street, Bloomington
Monday, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m-12: 00 p.m.
Closed Monday after February 27
Mid-Central Community Action
1301 W. Washington Street, Bloomington
Monday, 9:00 a.m-3:00 p.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m.
There’s a location in Champaign as well.
Boys and Girls Club
201 E. Park
Champaign, IL
Four days only:
February 6 & 20 AND March 13 & 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Clients will be served on a first come, first serve basis and all sites are ADA accessible
Questions? For more details and other tax site locations in Illinois, call 1-888-827-8511 or visit the website www.economicprogress.org.