Low-income residents can get tax help from Central Coast Tax Coalition

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• Nonprofit Strategies: Tax clinic helps low-income families obtain valuable credits

  Nonprofit Strategies: Tax clinic helps low-income families obtain valuable credits

  One of the most powerful tools the federal government has to help lowincome families move toward financial stability, the low-income tax credit, is underutilized on the Central Coast. A family of five earning less than $24,000 per year may be eligible for a credit of approximately $5,000. This infusion of money helps millions of working families nationwide stay out of poverty.

  To guard against abuse, the IRS audits families receiving the low-income tax credit at twice the rate of other tax filers.

  Until now, these families on the Central Coast had to hire a CPA or enrolled agent or represent themselves during the audit process. Fear of being audited and a lack of understanding of the tax code have deterred lowincome families from claiming the credit.

• Tax help offered to SLO County residents through California Central Coast Tax Coalition

  Tax help offered to SLO County residents through California Central Coast Tax Coalition

  The California Central Coast Tax Coalition is offering various forms of free assistance with income tax filing.

  Participating organizations include Cal Poly, the AARP and the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo. Services include tax preparation and representation in a tax controversy.

  In an example of such help discussed at an oncampus event Thursday, Cal Poly business accounting student Mariana Hernandez offered her expertise to a low-income, Spanish-speaking woman who lost two properties to foreclosure and faced $25,000 in tax payments.

• Program has prepared more than 900 tax returns for low-income local residents so far this year

  Program has prepared more than 900 tax returns for low-income local residents so far this year

  So far this tax season, a program providing free income tax preparation services to residents in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties has prepared more than 900 returns for low-income individuals and families.

  A partnership that includes Cal Poly, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County and United Way of Santa Barbara County offers the program that focuses on individuals and families earning less than $50,000 in 2011.

  To date, local residents have received a total of about $900,000 in federal income tax refunds, with qualifying families getting an average of $2,456, plus an average of $794 in a child tax credit, according to a news release.

• ‘Brush!’ brings dental care to kids

  ‘Brush!’ brings dental care to kids

  A new mobile dental health clinic will be at Dana Elementary School in Nipomo on Thursday as part of an effort to provide school-based oral health education and prevention for first- through third-graders.

  The program — called “Brush! Brush! Brush!” — is sponsored by the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, will attend. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to noon at the school at 920 W. Tefft St.

  The clinic will allow CHC to provide oral health education, dental cleanings, fluoride varnishes and sealants to more than 1,600 additional uninsured and low-income children in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, according to a news release from Capps.

• $1 million grant to help low-income homebuyers

  $1 million grant to help low-income homebuyers

  Twenty-five families in San Luis Obispo County could benefit from a $1 million state grant for first-time homebuyers, the county’s Department of Planning and Building announced.

  The CalHome funds result from passage of Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006. An additional $50,000 is available through federal HOME funds.

  The program provides down-payment assistance to low-income buyers. In 2007, San Luis Obispo County received $600,000 in CalHome funds and assisted 15 low-income homebuyers with down-payment and closing costs.