Free tax service offered at OCS

Since the start of 2010, more than 35 residents of Oberlin, Wellington, Amherst, and Elyria have been to Oberlin Community Services for the most recent addition to the services offered -- free tax assistance.

Volunteer tax counselors staffed two all-day community tax clinics in January and February, helping complete and file more than 60 federal, state, and school district returns, totaling more than $55,000 in refunds. Individuals were able to claim the Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credits, Education Credits, and the new Making Work Pay Credit. Even better, they were able to e-file entirely for free.

Oberlin Community Services is able to offer this program through a new partnership between the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio and Oberlin College's Bonner Center for Service and Learning. Claudine Brenner, an AmeriCorps* VISTA hosted by the Bonner CSL, organized the tax clinics and recruited both college students and community members to serve as volunteer tax counselors.

Brenner is a community trainer for the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB), a Web-based, counselor-assisted program that connects low- and moderate-income Ohioans with access to tax assistance and other public benefits. The OBB is a joint collaboration between the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and the Governor's Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.

Locally, Oberlin Community Services is one of more than 1,000 OBB sites across Ohio that uses the program to offer clients assistance applying for benefits in addition to tax help. Since January, OBB sites have helped residents of Lorain County claim moe than $330,000 in tax refunds.

Many of the volunteers were Oberlin College students who enjoyed the chance to supplement their coursework with practical knowledge while helping meet a need in the local community.

One volunteer, an Oberlin College senior said, "Helping others do their taxes was an incredibly rewarding experience and gave me insight and perspective about others' socio-economic situations while teaching me great information about taxes in general. It was a fantastic feeling when we finished filling out the 1040 and were able to claim great refunds."

Volunteers shared their enthusiasm with clients.

One local resident remarked, "From the moment I walked in I was well taken care of. My tax counselor was very efficient, knowledgeable and comforting. This is definitely something I would do again."

Counselors were able to use the OBB program to screen for different tax credits, and many people were both happy and often surprised to learn how much they would be getting back.

Linda Arbogast, executive director of Oberlin Community Services said, "This is a wonderful service to our clients. They are able to have their taxes done in our building, a place that they feel comfortable coming to for assistance of many types. And, they work with helpful, friendly volunteers who are working only to help them get the most out of their returns. At a time when money is hard to come by, saving a few hundred dollars by not having to pay a tax preparer can make a big difference to a family."

A grant from the Ohio Benefit Bank paid for a wireless router and printer for Oberlin Community Services, allowing volunteers to bring and use their own laptops.

The final Free Community Tax Clinic of 2010 will be held at Oberlin Community Services on Saturday, March 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment, or for more information call Claudine Brenner at 440-935-7259.