Volunteers with the The Midcoast Maine Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CA$H) coalition are offering free assistance with the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund Application, known as the “Circuit Breaker” program through October of this year and then again during the 2011 tax season.

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.

The Midcoast Maine Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CA$H) coalition has wrapped up another record-breaking tax season, helping 330 taxpayers file federal and state income taxes that resulted in more than $600,000 worth of refunds going back to the local economy.

This year the coalition was backed by an incredible crew of 31 community and Bowdoin student volunteers. With such a great commitment from volunteers, the coalition was able to reach more individuals and families in the low- to moderate-income bracket, with 32 percent of participants claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit.

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.