Low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Ohio may be eligible for free tax preparation assistance. The Ohio Benefit Bank connects taxpayers to certified counselors in-person and online who assist with local, state and federal tax return preparation. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks runs the Benefit Bank. Spokesperson Martin Terry says the eleven-year-old service assists nearly 35-thousand families each year.
Terry says the service helps ensure eligible families claim tax credits and incentives. That includes the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, which is designed to keep working families out of poverty.
To be eligible for the program, filers must earn 65-thousand dollars or less annually, or 95-thousand dollars or less for married couples filing jointly. Program information is available online.
