Neighborhood Works Free Tax Service, Feb. 15

ROSEBURG, Ore., (February 12, 2021)— NeighborWorks Umpqua opened their free tax preparation service to help prepare taxes for Oregonians needing assistance. Thanks to a partnership with the IRS, NeighborWorks Umpqua will open the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Roseburg and North Bend.  Tax services are by appointment only. NeighborWorks Umpqua is committed to customers’ safety and will follow COVID-19 guidelines outlined by the State of Oregon. The services will be contact-free; documents can be shared through a drop-off process by appointment only. Additional follow-up consultations are by phone.  For those who cannot travel, trained volunteers are available for questions while customers use a self-service website. “By partnering with the IRS, we have the support to connect with those in our rural community who normally do not have the means to file their taxes. This year we are adding translated services in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese,” says Michelle Martin, Director of Community and Economic Empowerment for NeighborWorks Umpqua.? A significant reason for providing these services is to help more individuals receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC adds dollars to the Oregon economy by giving working people more money to spend and contributes to reducing poverty. According to the Oregon Center for Public Policy, historically EITC participation has been in the 70-percentile range, which translates to over $100M in loss of economic activity in the state. NeighborWorks Umpqua hopes to increase the number of participants in the EITC by helping individuals file their taxes. Tax preparation appointment scheduling is open now through April 15, 2021. Those interested in getting their taxes prepared should call NeighborWorks Umpqua at 877-527-5630 or learn more about the service on the NeighborWorks website.