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Consumer Credit Counseling Services Receives $50,000 Kellogg Foundation Grant for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The local, non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Services has received a $50,000 grant from the national Kellogg Foundation for the third consecutive year. The grant is for Tax Help Montana, an IRS approved Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Tax Help Montana is supported by a coalition of agencies led by Consumer Credit Counseling Services and the Montana Credit Union Network.
Through Tax Help Montana volunteers are professionally trained and prepare income tax returns for moderate and low income Montanans. In 2006, Tax Help Montana prepared nearly 4,000 returns free of charge.
“Our goal is to help people receive the tax credits for which they are eligible,” said Tom Jacobson, CCCS President. “The unrealized tax credits amount to a substantial sum of money in Montana. If collected, this money can be used by Montanans as economic leverage to invest in assets such as vehicles or homes.”
Consumer Credit Counseling Services has partnered with the Montana Credit Union Network and others to offer VITA tax preparation at 17 Tax Help Montana sites across the state. CCCS also offers a rapid refund option for those without bank accounts.
In addition to the $50,000 Tax Help Montana Grant, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has recently provided substantial grant dollars to CCCS benefiting the Northern Plains Region. The Foundation was established in 1930 by breakfast cereal pioneer W.K. Kellogg "to help people help themselves."
In 2006, CCCS was awarded a $389,000, one-year planning grant from the Kellogg Foundation for planning economic initiatives in rural communities throughout 115 counties in Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.
Tax Help Montana is established throughout Montana and CCCS is currently developing Tax Help Wyoming.
Volunteer opportunities for Tax Help Montana are still available. To learn more contact Karen Heisler or Katherine LaBeau at 406.761.8721. For information on this free tax services visit www.montanafreefile.org.
