ASHLAND, Va. — Following the big game Sunday night, football season is officially in the rearview mirror, and another type of season is in full swing: tax filing season.
Two Ashland churches have partnered to run a free tax preparation assistance program for those living in their area and beyond.
Empowering Neighbors — a partnership between Shiloh Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Ashland — operates one of 11 tax assistance sites through a program and grant from the United Way of Greater Richmond .
Families and individuals who make less than $64,000 per year are eligible to work with trained and certified tax preparation volunteers, who help filers send in their returns and get the largest possible refund.
“People don’t understand taxes, they’re intimidated by them,” Howard Johnson, a board member for Empowering Neighbors, said.
“We came up with the tagline of building bigger front porches,” said Tom Lynch with Empowering Neighbors.
Lynch said the idea came about when their group realized the median income in Ashland fell within the program’s eligibility, so the service fits their mission perfectly.