HELPING CONSUMERS DURING TAX SEASON 2015

Georgia Watch has worked with AARP, the IRS, and Seedco to put together several resources to help you assist consumers during tax season in finding free and reliable tax preparation, understanding the penalties and necessary forms for the Affordable Care Act, and more!

FREE AND RELIABLE TAX PREP MAP OF GEORGIA

A new interactive map locating tax preparation services around Georgia will help families connect to free assistance, avoid the unnecessary expense of paid preparers, and keep more of their tax refunds. The map features AARP and IRS VITA free tax preparation sites and includes information about making appointments, hours of operation, and more. VITA sites will complete and file tax returns for families with incomes below $53,000. AARP sites have no income maximum or other eligibility requirements.

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN CHOOSING A TAX PREPARER

In a 2014 study by the Government Accountability Office, only 2 of 19 tax preparation offices prepared returns with the correct refund amount. Their errors ranged from $52 below what the refund should have been to $3,718 more than the correct refund. This guide will help Georgians choose reliable and knowledgeable tax preparers who are transparent and accountable.

HEALTHCARE AND TAXES

Many consumers will simply check a box to indicate that they had health coverage for the entirety of the previous year (2014), but for the 25-30 million who either did not have insurance or recently gained coverage through healthcare.gov, the new filing requirements are slightly more complex. Consumers may face sticker shock as a result of the penalty for not having coverage during 2014.

Georgia Watch has created resources for all consumers regarding tax requirements according to the Affordable Care Act:

Understanding Penalties & Exemptions

Filing taxes if you received assistance through Healthcare.gov

We are also conducting workshops for consumers who received these tax credits to ensure they file in compliance with the Act. We are grateful to our partners at Seedco for their support in educating and assisting consumers during healthcare enrollment efforts and to AARP and IRS VITA for sharing their resources.

You can join us at workshops in Cobb and DeKalb Counties throughout March:

Monday, March 2, 1PM-2PM, Mountain View Regional Library

Saturday, March 7, 10AM-12PM, Clarkston Public Library

Wednesday, March 11, 6:30PM - 8:30PM, West Cobb Regional

Saturday, March 14, 10AM-12PM, Clarkston Public Library

Thursday, March 19, 1PM - 3PM, Switzer Central Library

Saturday, March 21, 10AM-12PM, Clarkston Public Library

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30PM - 8:30PM, South Cobb Regional

Saturday, March 28, 10AM-12PM, Clarkston Public Library

You have not been subscribed to Georgia Watch's newsletter. This email blast was specially created for distribution to advocates and partners throughout Georgia. To subscribe, click on the 'Join Our Mailing List' button in the bottom right hand side of this email.

Georgia Watch

(404) 525-1085

www.georgiawatch.org