Tax Season Assistance

Have your taxes prepared and filed electronically by IRS Certified VITA/TCE Volunteer Preparers! Receive your refund in as little as 10 days if you choose direct deposit, or 3 weeks if you prefer a check. NAYA Family Center’s main tax season site is offered from February 1st – April 16th. Full-service tax preparation is offered on an appointment-preferred basis, but a limited number of walk-in appointments are also available when the tax site is open. No appointment is needed if you would like to use the “self-prep” service – just drop in during tax site open hours. We can prepare tax returns for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. To schedule, call (503) 288-8177, ext. 319.

If you are supporting children and your family income is less than $45,000, you may qualify for thousands of dollars in tax credits to help you support your family. Don’t let commercial tax preparers take your family’s money! Many paid preparers target low-income families with high-interest predatory “loans” so that you can get your refund a week or so earlier. NAYA’s free tax filing lets you use your entire refund as it was intended—to support your family and to help you be stable or build savings. Pay bills, buy groceries, invest in cultural activities like traveling to Gatherings or family, or save the money—for emergencies, for helping family members, or for a big purchase like a home!

NEW THIS YEAR: For the first time, we are also offering SELF-PREP! You can use NAYA Family Center’s computers and printers to electronically file and print your return (both federal AND state returns), using mainstream commercial tax software (Turbotax, H&R Block, or Tax Slayer). A trained volunteer will be available to answer questions and offer you guidance. This service is available for FREE to most taxpayers earning less than $58,000. Self-prep service is available during regular tax site hours and no appointment is required – just walk in. Be sure to bring all of your tax documents!

NAYA Family Center works together with the IRS and the United Way of the Columbia Willamette to provide this free service.

Dates and Times

The tax site is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm (last appointment/walk-in at 7:30), and Saturdays from 9 am – noon (last walk-in/appointment at noon). From February 1st – April 16th, the tax site is APPOINTMENT PREFERRED. This means that most appointments are scheduled ahead of time, but we do have a limited amount of appointments each day that are available on a first-come, first-served WALK-IN basis (no appointment needed). To schedule an appointment during tax season, call the tax appointment hotline at (503) 288-8177, ext. 319 (ONLY active from January 1 – April 16th), or e-mail irenas(at)nayapdx(dot)org.

What to bring for full service tax prep:

• Photo ID
• Social Security cards for you and your family, or Social Security/ITIN Number verification letters
• Birth dates for you, your spouse/registered domestic partner and dependents
• W-2 forms (from all jobs), 1099 forms (for per capitas, retirements and pensions, or misc income)
• Interest and dividend statements
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available
• A voided check if using direct deposit for your refund
• Total paid for day care and day care provider’s Tax ID Number
• Student loan interest & tuition statements (for total money you spent on school)
• If filing joint tax returns electronically, both spouses/partners must be present to sign forms

There are certain tax forms that we CANNOT file in our full service tax prep. These include:

• Full Schedule C for business income (limited self-employment income may be OK)
• Complicated/lengthy Schedule D (Capital gains/losses)
• Schedule E (Rental Properties)
• Schedule K-1 (Partnership Income; can prepare if the K-1 only shows interest income)
• Out-of-state State Tax returns (out-of-state residents OK if no other State Return is needed, such as Washington State residents)

HOWEVER – there are no limits on the types of returns that you can prepare yourself using the self-prep option. Volunteers are unable to offer guidance or advice on out-of-scope topics though.

Intake form

To prepare your taxes, your tax preparer will use the following intake form. To speed up your appointment/wait time, you can fill this form out ahead of time by downloading and printing it yourself. If you have any questions about the form, your tax preparer can help you when you arrive for your appointment. 

Interested in becoming a volunteer tax preparer? Click here for more information.
Interested in our year-round tax services, including workshops and one-on-one tax counseling? Click here for more information.