Maine residents who have lived in Maine all 12 months in 2009 and have paid either more than four percent of their income in property taxes or more than 20 percent of their income for rent are eligible for the refund.  Seniors do not need to meet this requirement when their income is less than $14,700 for those living alone or less than $18,200 when living with a spouse or dependent.

“It’s our goal to help people gain more financial stability,” said Sharon Ross, Midcoast CASH Site Coordinator and Director of Special Projects at Volunteers of America. “Free assistance with the rent and property tax rebate form is just one small of way of helping people make ends meet. Plus, we hope to offer more asset-building services year-round so people can access the resources that are available to them.”

Volunteers are available Mondays and Wednesdays through Oct. 6 in Brunswick or Mondays and Wednesday afternoons in Bath at the Midcoast Community Action Agency.

For Brunswick appointments, call Sharon Ross at Volunteers of America, 373-1140, ext. 206. For Bath appointments, call Karen Dowd at Midcoast Community Action, 442-0300.

Starting in mid-January 2011, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers will be offering free tax assistance for those who have a combined income under $50,000. Plus, our asset-building volunteer coaches will offer assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, Credit Reports, the Harold Alfond College Challenge Fund application, and the Maine Rent and Property Tax Rebate form.

Click here for details about the Maine Circuit Breaker Program.

Since the 2007 tax season, the Midcoast Maine CA$H coalition has helped about 1,200 individuals and families with free tax preparation services, helping bring more than $1 million back to the local economy.

The Midcoast CA$H coalition was formed in the fall of 2006 in an attempt to educate the public about the Earned Income Tax Credit. The coalition is one of eight coalitions statewide and pat of the CASH Maine coalition. The program was launched through a grant from the Department of Justice Weed & Seed Program, which was fiscally managed by Volunteers of America Northern New England, and funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Additional funding has been provided by an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant and mini-grants from Key Bank and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Midcoast Maine CA$H partners are: Annie E.Casey Foundation; Border Trust; Bowdoin College; Casey Family Services; Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maine; Downeast Energy and Building Supply; Goodwill Industries; Internal Revenue Service; Key Bank; Merrymeeting Adult Education; Midcoast Maine Community Action Agency; RSU1 Adult Education; United Way of Mid Coast Maine; University College at Bath/Brunswick; U.S. Department of HUD; Volunteers of America; Waterfront Maine and Women, Work and Community.

This year the coalition had strong support from many area businesses, including Downeast Energy and Building Supply, which took appointments through a dedicated hotline staffed by Downeast Energy employee volunteers. Also joining Midcoast CA$H from the business community was Key Bank, Border Trust, Waterfront Maine, University College at Bath/Brunswick and Bowdoin College. It was a true community effort.

Since the 2007 tax season, the Midcoast Maine CA$H coalition has helped about 1,200 individuals and families with free tax preparation services and financial asset building coaching, with more than $1 million worth of refunds being returned back to the local economy.

The Midcoast Maine Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CA$H) coalition was formed in the fall of 2006 in an attempt to educate the public about the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a federal tax benefit to help low and moderate income workers increase their financial stability. This benefit is intended to reduce the tax burden on those workers and supplement wages.

The program was launched through a grant from the Department of Justice Weed & Seed Program, which is fiscally managed by Volunteers of America Northern New England, and funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Additional funding this year was provided by an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant and mini-grants from Key Bank and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Midcoast Maine CA$H partners are: Annie E.Casey Foundation; Border Trust; Bowdoin College; Casey Family Services; Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maine; Downeast Energy and Building Supply; Goodwill Industries; Internal Revenue Service; Key Bank; Midcoast Maine Community Action Agency; United Way of Mid Coast Maine; U.S. Department of HUD; Volunteers of America; University College at Bath/Brunswick; Waterfront Maine and Women, Work and Community.

WWC  provides training, advocacy and assistance in four program areas: Building a Career; Starting a Business; Managing your Money; and Becoming a Leader.  For more information go to: http://www.womenworkandcommunity.org/

Maine CareerCenters

Maine CareerCenters provide information on job hunting, training opportunities and/or services available to veterans, young people and persons with disabilities: http://www.mainecareercenter.com/

University College/UMS System

University College uses the Web, interactive television (ITV) and other options to bring classes to your home and community, so you won’t have to commute to campus. To view degree programs available off-campus, and all other related information go to: http://www.learn.maine.edu/

Southern Maine Community College/SMCC

Southern Maine Community College offers programs in business, health, education, the arts, trades, and the natural and social sciences.  For more information: http://www.smccme.edu/

Southern New Hampshire University/SNHU

Southern New Hampshire University/SNHU offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs on location at several continuing education centers; and online through one of New England’s largest distance education programs.  For more information: http://www.snhu.edu/

Pine Tree Legal’s LITC helps clients deal with questions and problems with the Internal Revenue Service. Their services are free.  For contact information go to: http://www.ptla.org/taxpayer/taxpayer.htm

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)

CEI provides financing and business counseling support to start-up microenterprises and expanding/job-creating small businesses through the Small Business Development Centers at CEI and the organization’s Women’s Business Center.  For information about all of CEI’s financial and business education programs go to: http://www.ceimaine.org/

Women, Work and Community

WWC can help you build skills, gain confidence, and develop the networks.  For information on classes and funding options go to: http://womenworkandcommunity.org/?page_id=18

Family Development Account Coalition – Matched Savings Program — FDAs

The FDA Program enables low-income families to establish matched savings accounts which can be used to establish a business.  For a program description: http://womenworkandcommunity.org/?page_id=101

The Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community (WWC) and Midcoast Maine Community Action are the two agencies offering the program in the Sagadahoc/Lincoln County area.

The Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community offer Family Development Accounts (FDA’s), or “matched savings accounts”.  The learn more about FDA’s and whether you are eligible, go to http://womenworkandcommunity.org/?page_id=80.

Midcoast Maine Community Action also offers FDAs.  To learn more about their FDA program: http://www.midcoastmainecommunityaction.org/