CASH Announces Free Tax Preparation Services to Eligible Monroe County Residents
Since 2002, the organization has helped approximately 181,000 families in Monroe County file their tax returns.
Rochester, N.Y. — ESL Federal Credit Union announces that it is continuing its partnership with CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) during the 2020 Tax Season to help eligible Monroe County residents file their tax returns for free.
The services will be available from February 10 through April 18. CASH has permanently moved into the fourth floor of the Central Library-Bausch & Lomb Building on 115 South Ave, across from Rundel Memorial Library. CASH will be offering two-hour parking vouchers to those parking in the attached Court St. Garage.
To be eligible for the free tax prep services, individuals and families in Monroe County must meet all of the following criteria:
- Total household income is less than $56,000 for those with dependents, and less than $25,000 for those without dependents
- Worked and lived only in New York State (and not in New York City)
- Doesn’t have rental property income
- Did not sell stocks, bonds, or other financial assets
- If self-employed, did not have a loss, no employees, and their business expenses were less than $25,000
In order to meet the high demand for services and reduce waiting times, CASH is now offering Drop Off Services ONLY to taxpayers. Taxpayers will be able to meet with a CASH team member to drop off their documents and be asked to return at a designated time (within 3-5 days) to review and pick up their completed tax return. CASH is also committed to providing access to services to those with Limited English proficiency and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Taxpayers are welcome to call ahead to arrange for an interpreter for their visit, 585.900.1004.
“We are grateful for the continued support of ESL and other community partners, who have helped us save residents over $45M in tax preparation fees since 2002,” said Berta Rivera, CASH Director. “Those savings and tax refunds provide a much needed financial boost to residents in the community.”
CASH does more than just prepare tax returns—they also connect residents to much needed community resources like home buying programs, money management resources, affordable health care options, job training, and education. Their hours vary throughout the week, so residents looking to use these services should go the organization’s website to learn more and book an appointment. Spanish interpreters and ASL interpreters will also be available on Tuesdays and Fridays, respectively.
“ESL is excited to continue our partnership with CASH in 2020,” said Malik Evans, Financial Wellness Manager, ESL Federal Credit Union. “CASH has consistently shown that they are invested in and committed to helping local residents better understand financial issues. Tax preparation and filing is an annual necessity that is often complex and expensive. The work CASH does to alleviate these concerns for thousands of Monroe County residents every year is a significant benefit to our community’s financial health.”
CASH is able to offer this service for free because of the generosity of volunteers within the community. All volunteers have completed training by the IRS to prepare Federal and NYS tax returns. CASH is always looking for volunteers, and training is available in person and online. To learn how you can help, visit their Volunteer webpage.
For more information about availability and location, you can visit CASH’s website at https://empirejustice.org/cash/.
