Volunteers get a jump on tax season by helping lines of KC clients

Looking for free tax preparation help, Cheryl Lewis stepped into Union Station on Saturday with her chihuahua Chuey in a tote bag.

She left with a smile.

“My refund was better here than when I’d go to professional services,” Lewis said.

“I have easy taxes — don’t own much or make a lot of money. I got tired of the others taking their $200 from me every year.”

Hundreds joined her at the Community Tax Day event, where three dozen volunteer tax preparers kicked off a season of form-filling for people of modest means.

Co-sponsored by Next Step KC, University of Missouri Extension, the United Way of Greater Kansas City and other not-for-profits, the launch day for tax assistance was met with long lines of clients waiting before the service center opened.

“We’re overwhelmed the first weeks of tax season because everyone wants their refunds as soon as possible,” said Carol Smith, United Way’s vice president of community impact.

From here, the free service leaves the station and spreads to a variety of schools, churches, community centers and other locations across the metro area. Smith said more than 7,000 area households are expected to be served before the April 18 filing deadline.

“It takes a large number of volunteers to make this happen,” she said. “I’d say at least 250 is a safe bet.”

On Saturday, they included 10 traveling members of AmeriCorps, a national civilian service program. Working with MU Extension, the army of young adults obtained Internal Revenue Service certification to spend 12 weeks in Kansas City helping taxpayers file.

Through his training, Randall Hamilton, 23, of Ardmore, Okla., learned enough about tax law to know that some of his disabled and older clients qualified for a Missouri tax credit for renters.

He prodded at least one Kansas City client to phone his landlord and get the rental company’s tax identification number so Hamilton could complete the form. The client was happy to do so.

“I could use any credit I can get,” he said.

For those without health insurance, preparers are checking to see if they’re exempt from paying a tax penalty under terms of the Affordable Care Act, said Next Step KC board president Mario Urquilla.

Volunteers streamed into the station from all walks of life: military veterans, retired accountants, college students majoring in business.

They included Kansas City newcomers Casey and Jared Pessetto, a couple in their 20s who arrived and saw dozens of clients and their children waiting for assistance.

“We just moved here and thought to do something for our community,” said Casey Pessetto. “And to learn a little ourselves.”

For a list of area locations to obtain free tax form assistance, as well as dates and what to bring, call the United Way’s 2-1-1 help line or go to NextStepKC.org.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Volunteers get a jump on tax season by helping lines of KC clients."