Program at ACC provides tax help

People making less than $53,000 a year can get a little relief from the stress of tax season thanks to Tax Help Colorado. “Some people are afraid to make a mistake,” said Al Habercorn, site coordinator for the program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton. A partnership between the Piton Foundation and the Colorado Community College System, the program provides free tax assistance throughout the metro area. The ACC location has been open every Friday of March, with the final day of the program coming up March 25. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. at the school, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive. For more information, go to www.arapahoe.edu/event/2015/tax-help-colorado Habercorn said many people in their target audiences do not have computers at home to use free online programs such as TurboTax, and they do not want to enter their personal information at public library computers. He noted that the software that Tax Help Colorado uses encrypts users’ information. “We can offer a little more security,” he said. Habercorn said that many people may not know that if they are eligible for earned-income or child tax credits. The $53,000 income rule isn’t hard and fast, Habercorn said. The program can make exceptions for people who make more than that but have many dependents. Courtney Sabine, Piton’s manager of public information, said many people who take advantage of the service are self-employed, making their taxes a little more complicated. She said that in recent years, many have been drivers for the ridesharing services Uber and Lyft. Larissa Perry, of Parker, was one of the program’s clients on March 18. Withdrawing money from a retirement account at a job she left last year made her taxes more complicated. “I tried to do them myself and the free software told me I needed to upgrade,” Perry said.