Catholic Community Services offers free tax preparation for low-income residents

Catholic Community Services is now offering free tax preparation assistance to low-income residents of Yuma County.

This is the first year that Catholic Community Services has offered this special service. Each Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., trained volunteers will be at the Goodwill Store, 1600 S. 4th Ave., and at the San Luis Community Center, 10600 G. St. in San Luis, Ariz., to assist families with taxes.

Besides helping families file income taxes, the agency will help them claim earned income tax credits (EITC) if they are eligible to do so.

Irma Yepez-Perez, coordinator of the EITC regional program for Catholic Community Services, said the tax credit program is considered one of the most successful antipoverty programs ever developed, having lifted nearly 5 million people a year above the poverty line.

"The refundable income tax credit can provide substantial benefits - up to $4,204 - to qualified filers in the tax year 2003, depending on income, family size and marital status," she said.

Catholic Community Services is offering the tax preparation assistance in coordination with the American Association for Retired People and Goodwill.