Three free tax assistance workshops planned

Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and the Yolo County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Coalition are hosting a series of free tax assistance workshops over the next three Saturdays.

Families earning up to $50,270 from wages or self-employment are eligible for free tax preparation assistance and may receive a maximum of $5,891 in earned income tax credit. Many people who haven’t qualified in the past for that credit may qualify this year because of a change in marital status, the addition of children or changes in their income, but eligible workers must specifically claim the credit on their federal income tax returns in order to receive it.

“For the past four years, I have worked alongside the partners of the Yolo County VITA Coalition to help Yolo County taxpayers access every possible credit, including the EITC, and keep their hard-earned wages,” said Yamada, D-Davis. “I encourage those who qualify to make an appointment as soon as possible.”

Appointments are required at each tax assistance event. Call 530-406-7721.

The workshops will be held:

* In Woodland from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Room 800 at Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road;

* In Woodland from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in the Woodland High School Library, 21 N. West St.; and

* In Winters, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Community Room at the Winters Community Library, 708 Railroad Ave.

The Yolo County VITA Coalition is a partnership of the Yolo Family Resource Center, the Yolo County Children’s Alliance, the Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services, the Davis Students for VITA of UC Davis, the Rural Innovation for Social Economics Inc. and the IRS.