Mission First Legal Aid Office Tax Clinic helps residents see green

Fewer Jackson residents will see red this tax season. In fact, more of them will likely see green thanks to the Mission First Legal Aid Office Tax Clinic sponsored by Mission First, Mississippi College School of Law and TurboTax.

Persons with an adjusted gross income of no greater than $30,000 or who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit may receive free assistance and electronic filing through the program. Though volunteers do not prepare tax returns for taxpayers, they do assist them with the electronic filing of taxes via TurboTax online filing system.

The goal of the tax clinic is to encourage low-income taxpayers to utilize free e-file software and receive a refund by direct deposit as an alternative to using much of their refund to pay for tax submission services. When the taxpayer combines e-file with direct deposit, they may receive a refund within as few as nine days.

As most Mississippians have experienced the impact of the struggling economic environment, Mission First anticipates the program will lift the burden of filing taxes for the citizens of Jackson and encourages individuals to file taxes early to receive much needed tax refunds.

Cassandra Allen, a past tax clinic participant, said, “The Mission First Tax Clinic has lifted so much of a burden for me because so many other places you have to wait a long time to speak with someone and then it’s still sometimes hard to understand what to do, but here they walk you through the process.”

This year’s participants will receive assistance from local attorneys and Mississippi College School of Law students who have a heart for helping people and making a difference one person at a time.

“The tax clinic provides a valuable service to truly deserving and grateful people. As a second year law student, I can only hope that I can continue to make the same positive contribution in the community when I graduate, as we do through Mission First and the tax clinic,” said student organizer Pat Zimmerman.

The tax clinic will begin on January 24 from 9 AM until noon and continue every Saturday through March 7. While appointments are not necessary, they are highly encouraged for faster service. Interested individuals may contact the Mission First Legal Aid Office at 601.608.0056 or by e-mail at Gandy@mc.edu.

PHOTO: Mississippi College School of Law student, Andrew Holmes assists Cassandra Allen complete her 2007 tax returns last year at the Mission First Tax Clinic.