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It’s not too late for low income taxpayers:
Free Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance workshops in Antioch

ANTIOCH, CA, May 6, 2010 – Opportunity Junction today announced that it would continue its free tax preparation and filing services for low-income workers year-round as a result of funding provided by Citi.

Sessions will be held every other Friday starting May 14, 2010. With help from experienced session leaders, tax filers will complete their own returns using the simple web-based I-CAN eFile interface developed by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County. Free federal and state e-filing for 2009 returns is available through October 15, 2010, and session leaders can help participants prepare 2007 and 2008 tax returns, too.

Participants must sign up for a session at www.opportunityjunction.org/taxes. The sessions will be held at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch and start at 6 pm sharp.

To better prepare participants to make financial decisions beyond tax season, Opportunity Junction includes financial education as part of the tax assistance sessions. Participants receive information on tax issues – from deducting childcare to the Earned Income Tax Credit and how to invest a tax refund. They also receive education on a range of financial issues, such as how to save to reach long-term goals.

"We really appreciate Citi's partnership in teaching working families how to stabilize their finances," said Alissa Friedman, Opportunity Junction's Executive Director. "It's wonderful to see the excitement when taxpayers realize that they can prepare and file their own taxes – it doesn't have to be so mysterious." Friedman noted that the trainers for these tax assistance sessions are all alumni of Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement Program, trained in part by Citi volunteers.

Low income taxpayers who want to prepare their taxes for free on line, and do not need a trainer’s help, may connect to the site for free tax preparation through a link on the web page www.opportunityjunction.org/taxes.
Opportunity Junction, which is based in Antioch, Calif., fights poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families. Citi has supported Opportunity Junction since 2005.