ATCA expands free tax-prep options and offers Lifeline medical-alert help for Calaveras residents

Christy Moore, communications director for ATCA, outlined free tax-preparation services for Calaveras, Amador and Tuolumne residents and described a remote filing option intended to reach people who cannot travel to service centers.

Moore said ATCA’s VITA program provides IRS-certified volunteer preparers and free filing for households that make $60,000 or less (program limits and exclusions such as certain rental income or complex investments are listed on ATCA’s site). She said the program also helps residents access California’s Earned Income Tax Credit and other state credits; Moore noted that filing may produce refunds for people who do not ordinarily file tax returns.

For remote filing, ATCA partners with GetYourRefund.org, which allows residents to upload documents from a phone or computer and be matched with local volunteer preparers. Moore said the remote option connects filers with local volunteers (many based in Sonora) and can be a useful alternative to traveling to an office.

Moore also described a Lifeline Medical Alert program for eligible low-income residents; the service carries a monthly fee on a sliding scale, installers provide in-home setup, and some funding and installation support comes from local partners including a hospital. She said ATCA does not cover all of Calaveras County for that program because another provider (Adventist Health) covers part of the county.

"We really care," Moore said, describing ATCA’s local staffing and outreach in Calaveras and urging residents to request packets, call for mailed materials, or use on-site kiosks and library resources when they cannot print forms.

Moore said scheduling and staffing affect availability and encouraged residents to check ATCA’s website or call service centers to request mailed packets or make use of kiosks and local partners for assistance.