Free tax help available for low-income families

By Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer

GALLUP — There are precisely two weeks left to file your federal tax returns, which means for anyone earning less than $36,000 a year that there are exactly two weeks left to get free help filing those returns.

TAX HELP New Mexico, a non-profit volunteer organization that helps low-income families file their returns for free, will be offering its services until the very last day.

"It's been pretty successful so far," said Fred Gordon, who directs the program when he's not busy teaching at the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute.

Last year, with approximately 15 volunteers, the program helped 120 area families recover $124,000 worth of their federal taxes.

This year, with 25 volunteers and two more weeks to go, the program has already filed returns for between 300 and 400 customers since Feb. 7, according to Gordon.

Assuming each customer is due an average of $1,000, the program has already helped families put an extra $300,000 to $400,000 back in their pockets.

But that money doesn't just stay in their pockets. Says Gordon, that's an extra $300,000 to $400,000 pumped back into the local economy.

Gordon is happy about the growth of the Albuquerque-based program, which branched out to Gallup two years ago, but not necessarily surprised.

"From what I know, the program does grow that way. 100 people tell 100 people they know, and they tell another 100 people," and so on, he said.

Next year, he hopes to add more volunteers and help even more low-income families in the area get back the money they're due, though he's not setting any hard and fast targets.

"If we help one person in the area, that's good," he said. "If we can help someone else, that's even better."

The program is being run out of three locations around town: Room 174 inside the University of New Mexico-Gallup's Calvin Hall, Catholic Indian Charities at 506 W. Highway 66, and the Community Development Corporation at 193 E. Highway 66.

To qualify for the free service, you must earn less than $36,000 a year.

Those who qualify and wish to take advantage of the service should bring their W-2 forms, a photo ID, their Social Security card, and their bank account number if they want their returns deposited directly into their accounts.

For more information, call Jessi at 726-2048 or Sister Mary at 722-4407.