March 17, 2002

Washington, D.C.- Every year at this time my office receives dozens of calls and letters from Oklahomans who are having understandable difficulty preparing their taxes, and who need help completing their tax forms.

To help these and others across our state to decipher the maze of tax forms before the fast-approaching April 15 deadline, the IRS is providing free tax assistance at locations throughout the Sixth Congressional District of Oklahoma.

Last time in this space I addressed one of the changes to the 2001 forms that many taxpayers had questions about. Taxpayers who received the full tax rebate last year have been incorrectly putting the amount of their tax rebate in the Rate Reduction Credit line, when they should be leaving the line blank.

Another common mistake taxpayers make is not applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Last year, more than 9,300 Oklahomans that were eligible for this credit didn't claim it on their return. This credit is designed for taxpayers who work but have low income. You could be eligible for this credit if you have adjusted gross income of less than: $10,710 if you have no children, $28,281 if you have one child, or $32,121 if you have more than one child. There are other rules for the credit, so make sure you read the instructions carefully to determine if you are eligible for this tax reduction.

But these are just two of the many problems taxpayers have each year. These mistakes can delay your refund, or worse, cause you to pay more in taxes than you really owe.

To help taxpayers deal with the many forms and schedules, the Internal Revenue Service, in a cooperative program with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, is establishing offices across Oklahoma to assist taxpayers. These Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA sites, have trained volunteers that help prepare federal and Oklahoma tax forms for taxpayers with typical tax returns. Priority is given to taxpayers with special needs, such as the elderly or those with disabilities or low incomes.

There are more than 130 VITA sites in Oklahoma, and 22 in the Sixth Congressional District. According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, the volunteers in the VITA program are specially trained to handle both federal and state forms. Before beginning their public service as a volunteer, they must pass an exam covering all basic tax form areas. These volunteers are trained in tax forms, tax law changes, tax tables, exactly which forms you really need to use, what is deductible and what is not.

Many of these sites, which are set up in public places like libraries and community centers during the key tax season months, also offer free electronic filing. Last year, more than 66,000 taxpayers in the Sixth District, or about 33 percent, filed their returns electronically. Filing electronically will reduce the chance for errors in your return and speed up processing of your refund.

To find the VITA site nearest you, go to my website at www.house.gov/lucas and click on the "Free Tax Assistance" link. Or call my office at (202)225-5565. For more information on tax laws, the IRS tax help line is 1-800-829-1040. Or you can access information on the IRS website, at www.irs.gov.

My staff and I will continue to give you assistance on tax issues, as well as other casework areas. But hopefully these tips, along with the free tax help, can help you muddle through another tax season this year.