Community college students provide tax help

SCCC offers free preparation for households making under $53,000 a year

Southwest Colorado Community College will host Tax Help Colorado. People who had a household income lower than $53,000 in 2014 is eligible for free income tax preparation through the Tax Help program.

Thirty Internal Revenue Service-certified students and volunteers from Southwest Colorado Community College and Fort Lewis College will provide the free, confidential service. No appointment is necessary.

The college’s Tax Help Colorado Mancos site will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays on Feb. 20, Feb. 27 and March 6, in Room 104 at the Southwest Colorado Community College’s West Campus in Mancos.

The Durango site will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through March 7. The site also will be open 5 to 9 p.m. Monday and 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in Room 201 at the Southwest Colorado Community College’s East Campus.

Clients must bring these items:

Current photo identification.

Social Security cards, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, for every person on the return.

A copy of a 2013 tax return, if possible.

All W-2s, Form 1099s, interest statements, dividend statements and all other income-related documents.

Proof of mortgage interest, property taxes, day care payments, college-education expenses, charitable contributions and all other tax-deductible expenses.

For college expenses, clients should bring their Form 1098T from their college along with records of expenses paid for tuition, books, fees and supplies.

Form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C Affordable Health Care Statements if a person or any member of a household received tax credits to pay for health insurance.

Bank account and routing numbers if people plan to get their tax refund electronically deposited into their bank account.

For more information, email Kathy Elliott at Kathy.taxhelp@yahoo.com and call 749-2838.