Category Archives: Tax Assistance

Be a Volunteer Income Tax Preparer at LUM

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Every year, hundreds of low income families come to LUM to get their taxes done. And YOU can be a part of making that happen!

The average family that uses the LUM Tax Assistance Program earns a little more than $20,000 a year, cannot afford to pay a professional to do their taxes, and often lack the confidence, experience, or ability to complete the returns on their own.  

Being a volunteer tax preparer at LUM can be an incredibly rewarding and fun experience.

Tax tax clinics are scheduled for Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning in February and going through early April. You can sign up for as many or as few clinics as you’d like. All volunteers need to complete an IRS tax certification. Saturday prep classes will provided for volunteers in December and January to help you get ready. Anyone can learn to do this, regardless of background or experience.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a volunteer tax preparer, please email program director, Josh Prokopy at jprokopy@lumserve.org.

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Be a Volunteer Income Tax Preparer at LUM

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Every year, hundreds of low income families come to LUM to get their taxes done. We all know how scary tax time can be, but here at LUM it’s often a time of joy. Families who struggle every day just to get by, come here to learn they’re going to get a refund that will place badly needed money back in their pockets. And you can be a part of making that happen!

The average family that uses the LUM Tax Assistance Program earns a little more than $20,000 a year. They cannot afford to pay a professional to do their taxes, and many lack the confidence, experience, or ability to complete the returns on their own.  

Being a volunteer tax preparer at LUM can be an incredibly rewarding experience.Since, it is a small program, our volunteers have the chance to get to know their clients, and to feel the very personal and immediate reward that comes with realizing they have truly helped someone. At the same time, our volunteers have a lot of fun. Volunteers and staff get to know each other, socialize together between client visits, and help each other solve problems as they arise.

While a few of our volunteers are tax professionals, looking for a way to use their skills to help those in need, others just love the mental challenge of completing a tax return, and still others come to us with no background in math or taxes whatsoever. There have even been volunteers who started off terrified of numbers, only to discover that taxes weren’t that scary after all.

Tax tax clinics are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning in February and going through early April. You can sign up for as many or as few clinics as you’d like.

All volunteers need to complete an IRS tax certification. This can seem intimidating at first glance, but don’t worry! There will be Saturday prep classes in December and January to help you get ready. And once you’re certified you can spend a clinic or two shadowing a more experienced volunteer before taking your first client. And if you run into problems you don’t understand, there’s always someone there to help!

Anyone can learn to do this, regardless of background or experience. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a volunteer tax preparer, please email program director, Josh Prokopy at jprokopy@lumserve.org.

 

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Thanks & Congrats to the LUM Spring Interns

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LUM Staff Host Reception for LUM Spring Interns

Special THANK YOU to all of the LUM Interns for their valuable contributions this past Spring semester. Best wishes to all of our interns, especially Evie Griffin, Rob Krasa & Angela Weaver, who are graduating. Evie & Rob will receive their MSW from IU, and Angela, her BA from Purdue, at ceremonies this weekend. John Schumann will continue his studies toward his MSW.

Interns allow LUM to serve our youth, clients and guests with increased efficiency and innovation. Thanks also to Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and the IU School of Social Work for trusting LUM with the education and supervision of their talented intern students.

{Pictured above L to R , are John Schumann, Evie Griffin, Rob Krasa, and Joe Micon, LUM executive director.}

LUM Tax Assistance – Strengthens Families

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Celebrating Another Successful Tax Year

Each year, LUM offers FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance for eligible, low-income households and individuals who reside in Tippecanoe County. Some interesting statistics about this year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program are as follows:

  • $633,267 – Total Refunds
  • $568,183 – Total Federal Refunds
  • $65,084 – Total State Refunds
  • 407 – Income Tax Returns filed
  • $153,912 – Total in Earned Income Credit
  • $20,750 – Average Adjusted Gross Income

Why is the LUM Tax Assistance Program so important?

  • Lower wage workers wouldn’t be able to afford having their tax returns prepared professionally
  • Federal & state support for working families is often offered through tax code
  • If workers don’t file, significant tax credits will be left unclaimed
  • Refunds boost our local economy by increasing sales and creating jobs in retail

This year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program volunteers and staff met for dinner at the program director’s home to reflect & celebrate another successful year. Attending the celebration, pictured above L to R, were (back row) Rob Patrick, Karen Marty, Patti O’Callaghan, Andrea Schmidt, Josh Prokopy, LUM Tax Assistance Program director, & Ron Smith; and (front row) Cheryl Nettleman & Ann Pellegrino.

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Tax Assistance Program

LUM Income Tax Assistance in Full Swing

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Impressive Program Statistics So Far

In just over a month, the LUM Tax Assistance Program has had a tremendous positive impact on our community. Some interesting statistics so far are as follows:

  • Total Income Tax Returns Filed – 206
  • Total Earned Income Credit – $105,749
  • Average Adjusted Gross Income – $21,823
  • Total Refund Amount – $362,503

LUM would not be able to offer this service without the skilled, trained volunteers who make this important LUM program such a success each year. At LUM, taxpayers get one-on-one help from IRS-certified volunteers who prepare their taxes at no charge. The 2018 LUM Tax Assistance Program is led by Josh Prokopy (pictured above).

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Tax Assistance Program

Spotlight on Tax Assistance Volunteers

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The LUM Tax Assistance Program started this month and is in full swing! Volunteers are an integral part of this vital program, and today we put a spotlight on these superstars. Pictured L to R are Karen Marty, Andrea Schmidt, Ann Pellegrino, Josh Prokopy (director), Connie Decker and Marilyn Zerbes. Volunteers not pictured are Evie Griffin (intern), Patti O’Callaghan, Ron Smith, Rob Patrick, Tricia Sembroski, Ai Ai Lau, Carol Reisert, Tim Delworth and Bill Meinweiser. LUM would not be able to offer this service without the skilled, trained volunteers who make it a success each year. Special thanks to ALL of the LUM Tax Assistance Program volunteers this year.

Did you know?

  • At LUM, taxpayers get one-on-one help from IRS-certified volunteers who prepare their taxes for them at no charge
  • You may also file your taxes online for FREE

For more information on the Tax Assistance Program or how YOU can volunteer, click HERE or call 765.423.2691.

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Meet the LUM Interns – Spring 2019

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Evie Griffin 

Evie is a naturalized US citizen from Estonia, grew up in Marion County and now lives in Cutler, Indiana with her husband, Timothy, and their 20-month old son. After high school, Evie enlisted in the US Marine Corp and served for five years in various locations including southeast Asia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from IUPUI and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at the Indiana University School of Social Work (Indianapolis).

At LUM, Evie is working as an intern with the LUM Tax Assistance Program.

Robert Krasa 

Rob is from Toledo, Ohio and now lives in Lafayette with his wife, Jessie, who also grew up in Toledo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Toledo and and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at the Indiana University School of Social Work (Indianapolis). Rob also worked for nine years in community mental health counseling and group program development.

At LUM, Rob is an intern with the Campaign for Hoosier Families and the LUM Dream Team Fund.

John Schumann 

John is from Lafayette and now lives in West Lafayette with his wife, Karen. They have four grown children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Purdue University and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at the Indiana University School of Social Work (Indianapolis). John is also the owner of Schumann Custom Building & Landscaping.
At LUM, John is an intern with the LUM Emergency Shelter and Winter Warming Station.

Angela Weaver

Angela grew up in Wheatfield, Indiana and now lives in West Lafayette with her husband, Kyle, and their beagle, Bailey. Angela & Kyle grew up together and are both students at Purdue University. She will complete her degree in three years this May with a bachelor’s in Law & Society.

At LUM, Angela is the LUM Klinker-Alting Family Advocacy Intern working with the Campaign for Hoosier Families.

LUM Tax Assistance Program Starts Soon

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Volunteers Are A Vital Part of LUM Tax Program

The LUM Tax Assistance Program will start on Saturday, February 2. Volunteers are an integral part of the LUM Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program also known as VITA. LUM would not be able to offer this service without the skilled, trained volunteers who make this vital LUM program such a success each year. Special thanks to ALL of the volunteers assisting with the LUM Tax Assistance Program this year.

Did you know?

  • At LUM, taxpayers get one-on-one help from IRS-certified volunteers who prepare their taxes for them at no charge
  • If your household earned less than $66,000 in 2018, you may file your taxes online for FREE

For more information on the LUM Tax Assistance Program or how YOU can volunteer, click HERE or call 765.423.2691.

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Volunteers Needed – Income Tax Assistance

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Volunteers Needed – LUM Income Tax Assistance Program

Make a difference in your community by becoming a LUM tax volunteer. Volunteers are needed from Saturday, February 2 through Thursday, April 4 for the LUM Tax Assistance Program.

No experience is necessary — and training is provided. You may even qualify for continuing education credits. There are a number of volunteer roles available — click HERE to see descriptions. For tax preparers, some accounting experience is desired. In all tax volunteer roles, individuals who are bilingual, multi-lingual, and have international experience are helpful. As a LUM tax assistance volunteer, you’ll join a program that’s helped millions of people file tax returns at no charge for more than 40 years.

LUM strengthens our community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA, a nationwide IRS program, secures greater financial stability and economic opportunity for working families — and directly impacts OUR community. Your help will make a difference — and have a significant positive impact. If you are interested or need more information please click HERE or call or email Josh Prokopy (765-423-2691 | taxes@lumserve.org).

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LUM Position – Immediate Opening – Program Director

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LUM has an immediate opening for the Tax Assistance Program Director. Please review the information below — and share with others. Applications will be reviewed as received.

position announcementsProgram Director – Tax Assistance Program

This is a half-time (20 hours per week), paid ($1,429 per month), temporary position, which ends on April 30, 2019. The individual selected will direct the program that provides free federal and state tax preparation for lower wage earners. Successful candidates must pass the online IRS tax preparation certification.

To view the position description, click HERE.

Please email your resume and cover letter to lum@lumserve.org by December 5, 2019.