"I found The Benefit Bank online when searching for tax filing assistance. I have used The Benefit Bank for my 2009 and 2010 taxes. Last year I compared The Benefit Bank results with Turbo Tax results. The Benefit Bank found a deduction that Turbo Tax didn't - a pretty big one. As a result, I received a tax refund instead of having to pay! Why would I go anywhere else? "
Self-Serve client from Michigan
"I had a customer call today, (I did his taxes a week ago) he wanted to tell me that he really appreciates me doing his taxes for him. I did a great job. I was professional. I took my time and made him feel comfortable. He likes the service and will be back again next year.
Lucrecia, A.B.L.E. Inc, Ohio
I had a client come in today. She was a very nice lady. She usually pays to have her taxes filed and found out from a friend that The Ohio Benefit Bank does taxes for free. She came in and got her taxes done and said to me, "Thank you very much for being so thorough and patient with me, I really appreciate it."
It is nice to know that you can make a difference in someone's life with just a smile and a good personality.
Lucrecia, A.B.L.E. Inc, Ohio
"This is a story about a client that came to Lee Davis Center to get her taxes done after going to Liberty Tax Service. She came to Lee Davis Center because Liberty Tax Service was going to charge her $405.00 for her refund of approximate $6,000.00. The Tax Counselor completed her return with Form 14039 Identity Theft, since her identity had been stolen. She was very happy with the free service."
Jerry L Balloon, Family and Aging, FL
"GMN Tri-County CAC, Inc. has assisted many families in our three-county service area of Southeastern Ohio with their tax preparation this year.
One client was hesitant to scheduled an appointment to file her taxes at our agency's OBB site. She is retired and works a part-time job to keep busy. She believed it would be a complicated process and that she was going to have a large amount to pay this year. After entering all of her information, the screen displayed an amount that she would receive: Federal return - $1,900 and $100 from her State return! Bonnie showed such excitement when receiving this good news and made plans to buy her a new, big screen tv and I-pad! She has contacted our agency several times to thank us for such good service and making her day brighter."
Kimberly Cobb, GMN Tri-County CAC, Inc., Ohio
"I jumped into my volunteer role with the MCS T.O.U.C.H. program to become an Ohio Benefit Bank Counselor to find a way to give back and to use skills that I truly believed I held within me. I have gained so much more than I have given in the last six weeks. The agency that I volunteer with is a community non-profit primarily working with ex-offenders in many various programming and support areas. I began with taxes only (as of March, 14th am a full-fledged benefits bank trained counselor) and that is where my story begins.
I jumped in and was convinced that I needed to be creative in marketing the services that I could offer our program participants, residents of our socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood and others that might be looking for services that they didn’t know existed.
I walked East Main Street, Columbus, to hang the free advertising materials at about eight ethnic grocery stores, various ethnic restaurants, laundromats, pay-as-you-go stores, check cashing stores and any storefront and apartment complex where I believed I could find clients needing assistance. I also used materials provided by Second Harvest Foodbank and the Ohio Benefit Bank to bombard any social media outlet that I could think of including the local GLBT Center for distribution in their newsletters and website displays, the greater Columbus Human Services Email Distribution List, and community mental health agencies.
I have worked with clients coming into the TOUCH Program offices from suburban communities approximately 25 miles away. I have clients telling me that they would have paid money that they don’t have to get taxes done professionally but instead they get the satisfaction that they prepared their taxes with the help of someone typing in the information and having a conversation that facilitates the process.
I also worked extensively with Twin Valley Behavioral Health; the Columbus facility meeting the needs of patients in the state psychiatric facility. This is where I have learned that what we do as Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB)Counselors truly impacts the community in ways we would never imagine.
I have worked with hospital administrators to gain approval from the State of Ohio to work with patients on a one-on-one basis in locked units using specific computer equipment/Internet access/printing capabilities and supplies provided specifically for this service to clients that had never been offered before.
I even have staff interested and supportive of what they can also gain by using the OBB services. Clients bring me their individual and unique self and the reward is seeing them realize that the $7 refund is like millions of dollars to others. I have seen them plan what they will do with the $7 refund and the gleam in their eyes as they think about what will be waiting for them to pick up from the hospital mail system down the road.
Tax season is ending in about a month and my focus has shifted to seeking creative ways to market services available through the full use of the Ohio Benefit Bank — I’m back to walking the streets, knocking on doors in area apartment complexes, talking with key individuals in area churches, agencies, businesses, and hanging free promotional information absolutely anywhere I can find an open space that will provide the program with visibility and promotional opportunities.
I smile as I type this story because I know that what we do is appreciated and I see through the disenfranchised exterior what has been created and forced upon those that I come in contact with in this helping environment. I see their appreciation, hope and amazement and that provides me with satisfaction."
Mark Williams, TOUCH, Ohio
"I assisted a client with her 2011 federal and Indiana state income taxes today. She had first gone to a professional tax preparer to do it. They charged her $330 after completing them. She refused to pay and turned to RSVP to do it for free. Her family income consisted of less than $8000 for her employment plus her husband's $19,000 (His employer, by the way, had not properly withheld taxes nor paid his Social Security or Medicare taxes.)
The professional tax preparer calculated that they owed about $2400 federal and $330 state taxes. Using The Benefit Bank she will receive a refund, not a tax due, of $3,450 from the federal and $320 from the state...that was even after the approximate $900 deduction for the payment of his Social Security and Medicare taxes on his earnings...It would have been $4,350 if that wasn't due.)
What happened is that The professional tax preparer had not calculated Earned Income Credit. You can imagine how thrilled she was. They really needed that money. Without The Benefit Bank that wouldn't have happened."
Note: The dollar amounts are close approximates.
James Wood, RSVP WICAA, IN
"I heard about The Benefit Bank through the local news media. This will be my third year filing my taxes through The Benefit Bank website, and I've never had any problems at all. It's easier to understand than any self-guided software I've ever used, and I've used them all."
North Carolina tax Filer using The Benefit Bank Self-Serve
"I have been helping clients with taxes since The Benefit Bank began. Now that they can use The Benefit Bank Self-Serve, they still come to me to use the Internet, computers and printers in our office to complete their taxes. This service is a blessing to low-income families who would have to pay for income tax preparation or are too intimidated to file and don't receive the refunds they deserve. Thanks The Benefit Bank for helping to put needed financial resources back into poor people's pockets."
Aissia Richardson, African American United Fund, PA
"A woman who is currently homeless came in to file a W2 from last year. She had only made $800 for the entire year of 2011. She expected to owe the government and was obviously stressed about it. She only received $110 back from the federal and state but was in tears as this would allow her to stay a night in a hotel in a warm and dry place (and she didn't have to pay). This lady has been referred to the homeless assistance in the area and will hopefully have a safe place to call home soon!"
Sarah, OASHF, Ohio
"I have helped several people with their taxes. The exciting news is that they are getting their State refund in 2 weeks or less and their Federal refund in 3 weeks. Also Students' FAFSA forms are completed at the same time as taxes and gets results the same day the taxes are done!!!"
Davia Winkle, Southside Food Pantry, Ohio
"It was our first time sponsoring a Tax Clinic, and I was very
nervous, hoping everything would go great. Well what is the old saying? If it can go wrong, it will. However, because I followed the Tax Guide, we were organized and prepared to meet the challenges that arose. H.A.S.I. Partnered with the Word of Righteousness Family Life Center in Garfield, Ohio and the support and help was priceless.
There were some clinches with the wireless system, printer malfunctions, and the Mobile had taken a wrong turn, but as soon as Russell arrived, he was up and running, and taking care of our clients. Because we had scheduled appointments, and followed the guidebook, we were prepared, clients left educated and surprised that they were able to get tax returns.
We had one client come in very sure that they would not get anything back because they had been off of work and had no dependents, but she did have education credits because she was in college. She was happy that she would be getting a good amount back as a return. Aaron and I cannot wait until next year’s tax clinic."
Darlene Grayson, H.A.S.I., Ohio
"My client filed her 2010 back taxes and will be getting a return of $88.00. She was very happy with that and she was even more grateful that I was able to help her for free."
- Natasha Dunlap, East Columbus Development Center, Ohio
"I was helping a young married mother with two small children apply for food stamps. She was not born in the US so she was very hesitant to trust that The Benefit Bank could help her. It did. We spent 2 hours completing the SNAP info and at the end of our appointment she was very grateful and very, very thankful."
- Mary, Faith Community of North Spencer, IN
"I was first introduced to the benefit bank through my last place of employment. I would refer clients to the program and encourage them to use it. I am completely satisfied and even grateful for the services they provide. My refund will be used to pay bills. Muchas Gracias!!!"
-Self-Serve Client, Pennsylvania
"After being a volunteer tax preparer with OBB for the 3rd year, last year-2011-I decided to try the self-serve. I had always paid to have taxes done before, but since I have only SS and retirement income, I thought I could do my own. It was so easy and small refunds were deposited to my account within a week."
- Self-Serve Client, Ohio
"I heard about The Benefit Bank from our county's Purdue extension agent in August of 2011. I used it for the first time this tax season. It was very easy to fill out and I was thoroughly impressed! I am very happy with the service I received and hope to be able to use it again next year. I very much appreciate the fact that you have made this wonderful service FREE for us to use! I'm telling my family and friends about it and how easy it was! THANKS AGAIN!"
Self-Serve Client from Indiana
"Today was the first time I've participated in "Super Saturday". I was a little nervous with my first client, however could not have been happier with the results. She had went to Jackson-Hewitt and was told her refund was $5,000 and here it was $5608. Jackson-Hewitt gave her a hard time when she left telling them she was going to have it done by OBB. They told her we would never even get her to the $5k refund they did. It has baffled me as to what they did wrong - file as Single instead of HoH or maybe it was the fees. Overall I was thrilled."
Cathy Stevens OBB
"Family of 6 with the 3 family members disabled and as father with a green card from Nigeria who recently lost his job was able to receive over $9,000 back without paying the $500 dollars in fees paid last year from a tax/cash back firm. We got them a bank account and e-filed with direct deposit. They simply said "God is Good!
Jeff Carson OBB
"I did my own taxes this year using The Ohio Benefit Bank website. I will receive the EITC of $3,084.00 that will enable me to buy new tires for my car and have some other minor repairs done to keep me going. My daughter's birthday is also coming up and will give me an opportunity to give her something special on her 11th birthday this year. I am thankful to be a working, single mother and able to provide for my family. The Ohio Benefit Bank and Americorps have given me fantastic opportunities to serve and help others in the same capacity throughout the community."
A member of the Potter's House Ministries, Ohio
"I've been doing my taxes and FAFSA through The Benefit Bank for at least 3 years now, never a problem and it's totally free! I get my money in my bank account in less than 2 weeks every time!"
Deidre on Facebook
"Today I assisted a client with her Federal & Ohio State tax filing. She came to us after being quoted $800 & $400 filing fees by H&R Block and Hewitt. She was able to file as head of household and received a Federal refund of $4,184 on her $12,000 annual income. $3,084 of her refund is due to credits."
Rev. Yvonne Conner, Enhancement Ministries, Inc, OH
Together they were able to eliminate the money she owed the I.R.S., and get her a refund!
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