From CACLV: - The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley's free income tax preparation service begins today. For the seventh year, around 100 volunteers will ensure that low - to –moderate income taxpayers get all of the special tax credits for which they are eligible, save money by avoiding high-cost commercial preparers and avoid what CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings calls “the predatory refund anticipation loans offered by companies like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt.” Such savings can range from $100 to $400 or more.All volunteers have been trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service.
The locations and dates and hours of operation are as follows:
Bethlehem, 1337 East Fifth Street (CACLV offices) : Mondays from 2pm-7pm , Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Allentown, 824 Hamilton Street (former WIC office): Tuesdays from 3pm-7pm, Wednesdays from 3pm-7pm, Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Easton, 515 Church Street (Easton Area Public Library): Tuesdays from 3pm-7pm, Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Mt. Bethel, 5 Mt. Bethel Plaza (Rep. Rich Grucela's office): Thursdays from 1pm-5pm
(Rep. Rich Grucela’s Office)
The agency has the expertise to prepare federal, state and local tax returns. It cannot prepare returns for taxpayers with rental income or business income requiring a Schedule C.
While the agency will accept walk-ins, taxpayers are urged to contact the agency to make an appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 484-893-1040. The agency asks taxpayers to be prepared for their appointments by bringing the following documentation: Social Security cards for every person being claimed on the tax return; proof of identification; accurate birth dates for every person being claimed on the tax return; all W2s, 1099s, and similar reports; bank routing numbers and account numbers for up to three accounts for direct deposit of refund; the name, address, and tax ID number for day care providers; college tuition and loan interest information; work related expenses, such as union dues and uniforms, paid by the taxpayer; for homeowners: proof of receipts for mortgage interest, real estate taxes, charitable contributions, and medical expenses,
If you purchased a home during the year, please bring the HUD Settlement Sheet, also known as the HUD-1, or the closing statement to the appointment.
The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley has consistently received the IRS’s award for operating the best program in the region. In 2009, CACLV filed 1218 returns, generating refunds of $1,702,967. These refunds enabled taxpayers to pay rent or make mortgage payments, pay down debt, purchase long-delayed items or even simply take the family out to dinner, helping to stimulate the local economy. It is estimated that the agency saved taxpayers more than $244,818 by not using commercial tax preparers or refund anticipation loans.
