CA$H Maine wants to help you do your taxes for free

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - CA$H Maine is a statewide collaboration of nine coalitions, composed of 50 non- and for-profit partners, working together to help empower Maine individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability.

Eastern Maine CA$H is one of these coalitions and they conduct free tax services in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Waldo counties through the IRS’ VITA Program. VITA Stands for “Volunteer Income Tax Assistance”.

VITA is a volunteer-based program, so the more volunteers available, the greater the amount of tax filers can be served.

To qualify for free tax preparation services through the VITA Program you must meet the following criteria:

1) Your household’s combined income for the year is $60,000 or less.

2) You didn’t have any unusual types of income or expenses, such as rental property, farm income, or self-employment with more than $35,000 in expenses.

3) No one in your household lived or worked outside of Maine in 2022.

4) You or your spouse were not active in the military in 2022.

5) No one in your household is a foreign student, teacher, or trainee in the US on an F, J, M, or Q visa.

For the 2022 Tax Season, there are 8 locations where volunteers will meet with you and scan your documents. There is also an online link where you can upload your own documents instead of scheduling an appointment, which is located on the CASH Maine and Eastern Maine CA$H websites.

The link to upload your own documents is: https://www.getyourrefund.org/emcashmobile

Volunteer Opportunities:

As mentioned earlier, VITA is a volunteer-based program. Volunteers are always needed and there are volunteer opportunities for everyone, regardless of whether you are employed full-time or retired. Some volunteers even have the opportunity to work remotely from the comfort of their own homes! Virtual Tax Preparer Volunteers can work remotely, Intake/Interview Volunteers work at the tax sites, Opportunity Guide Volunteers can work remotely or on-site, and ASL Interpreter Volunteers (it is preferred that they work on-site but can work via zoom if need be).

Training is free for all volunteers and no prior experience is needed. If you are interested in becoming a VITA Volunteer, please email emcash@penquis.org.

Financial Stability:

While the VITA Program assists income-eligible taxpayers with filing their taxes, another important component of this program is about Financial Stability. The Opportunity Guide Volunteers speak with tax filers regarding their financial stability. Some may ask “What is financial stability?” Financial stability is defined as a person’s ability to fully meet current and ongoing financial obligations, they can feel secure in their financial future, and are financially prepared for the unexpected.

The Opportunity Guides talk to clients about various programs and services offered at Penquis and other area resources that are available to them throughout our coverage areas such as Family Development Savings Accounts and Rainy-Day Savings Accounts; as well as talk to them about their plans for their tax refunds, encouraging them to save at least a portion of it for Emergencies; it is an opportunity to discuss having a plan in place for their refund.

Locations and contact info:

This year there are tax sites in Bangor, Orono, Lincoln, East Millinocket, Dover-Foxcroft, Belfast, Ellsworth, and Machias.

All of the tax sites are by appointment only.

To schedule a 2022 Tax appointment: please call 207-973-3500.

Physical Address of each tax site:

Penquis CAP Inc.- Bangor

262 Harlow St.

Bangor ME 04401

Orono Public Library

39 Pine St.

Orono ME 04469

Penquis CAP Inc. – Lincoln

9 Main St. Suite #2

Lincoln ME 04457

Katahdin Higher Education Center / EMCC

One Dirigo Dr.

East Millinocket ME 04430

Penquis CAP Inc.- Dover-Foxcroft

50 North St.

Dover-Foxcroft ME 04426

Waldo CAP

9 Field St.

Belfast ME 04915

First National Bank

194 Beechland Rd.

Ellsworth ME 04605

Machias Savings Bank

Community Center

4 Center St.

Machias ME 04654

Copyright 2023 WABI. All rights reserved.