Cash Back program of free tax help

This tax season low-income Queens residents will be able to receive free tax refund assistance.
The Citizens Committee for New York (CCNY) recently unveiled its annual program, Cash Back 2008, designed to help eligible Queens residents, especially first time filers, claim millions of dollars in tax refunds.
The CCNY, in partnership with various grass roots organizations, will set up mobile sites throughout Queens where residents can find out how to “put hard-earned dollars back in their pockets,” the Committee said in a statement.
The CCNY, which is active in all five boroughs, provides small grants, training, and hands-on technical assistance to hundreds of volunteer-based and grassroots organizations in the city.
Trained individuals at the sites will help eligible residents do their taxes. In addition, residents can get help applying for food stamps, health insurance, Medicaid and other government programs.
Peter H. Kostmayer, president of the Committee, said that Cash Back 2008 is targeting low-income families, part-time workers, cash workers, immigrants, refugees and mature students.
“So many hard-working Queens residents don’t realize that they are eligible to receive larger refunds, and as a consequence, don’t claim money that is rightfully theirs,” said Kostmayer. “With Cash Back we are working to put that money back in their pockets.”
In addition to the mobile sites, the Cash Back program also includes a hotline - 212-822-9584 - where residents can call to find out how to get assistance in their neighborhoods.
Help is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Urdu, Pashto, Dari, Punjabi, Bengali, Hindi, Korean, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
“Through this anti-poverty initiative, free help is available to every low income worker and family,” Kostmayer said. “We will give you the tools to claim back money that is part of your earned income. We can also help you manage this money through financial education workshops, and help those who are eligible enroll for public benefits like food stamps.”
Debra Sheldon, the Committee’s Director of Programs, stressed the importance of working with local organizations to reach community members. “This is the 5th year of Cash Back and through the years we’ve worked with around 70 groups,” said Sheldon. “This year we are working with seven groups, some of which include: The Coney Island Avenue Project, Ocean Bay Community Development Corp., and Association Tepeyac de New York.
“Grassroots groups are uniquely positioned to impact the community,” Sheldon said. “Larger organizations simply can’t address the issues as directly. In the future we hope to transition the campaigns to these smaller organizations.”