Last-Minute Tax Help Pays Off for Families

On a day that makes many people shudder, one spot in Santa Ana was producing smiles as wide as a 1040 form is long.

That’s because at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, volunteers were offering last-minute tax help for low-income working families.

And the more than 50 procrastinators who showed up Thursday -- W-2 forms and filing folders in hand -- were grateful for the services.

As Internal Revenue Service forms grow more complex and tax preparers more expensive, and as high-tech solutions require access to and familiarity with a computer, the demand for tax help for low-income households is increasing.

“We saw the need for it,” said Barbara Kuhns, an IRS spokeswoman.

“Our department is working more with these community groups, and they’ve gone up through the years.”

Last year, in its first year of service, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County helped file 102 tax returns. This year, not including Thursday’s total, the organization has filed 414. The volunteers help with federal and state returns.

Center director Bob Cohen said some families were cheated of refunds and overcharged by tax preparers using deceptive language.

“It’s been a huge problem,” he said. “Our clients have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous folks for a long time.”

Volunteers also helped qualifying families apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can add a credit of more than $4,000 to a family’s return.

“For some people, it’s the most money they have seen at one time,” Cohen said. “We have boxes of tissues in our offices. When they see their refunds, they break out in tears.”

Cohen said one woman recently came in to file her taxes from the last few years and discovered she was owed $12,000.

For Bruce and Jackie Martin of Anaheim, the last few years have been tough. Bruce Martin is on disability after sustaining an arm injury in 1998, leaving Jackie as the primary provider for her husband and 17-year-old son.

So when they recently learned of the tax service, the Martins decided to take advantage of it.

Waiting in line Thursday, their number was called two hours before the center closed.

“They keep changing the system. They add a law on the tax form, then they take away a law. It’s very confusing, and there’s no way to figure it out,” Bruce Martin said. “So this is totally a ray of sunshine for us.”

Added Jackie Martin: “I’ll wait three hours if I need to.”

For Tony, a Huntington Beach man who is starting up his own appraisal business, the service was a boon to his bottom line.

“The money is terrible at the beginning, and start-up cost is high,” Tony said of his job. “In a year I should be doing very well. So hopefully I won’t be here next year.”

An hour later, Tony -- who declined to give his last name because of his new business -- walked out and said he’d found out he’ll be receiving a $700 refund.

“I had a great experience. They helped me out as best as they possibly could,” he said. “It was a very complicated form, and I couldn’t have done it myself. I’m very happy with it.”