Phyllis Collins This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. www.news-journal.com

   www.news-journal.com/news/cont - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/28/2007   Last Visited: 12/28/2007

   "Many families with incomes under $40,000 a year qualify for the earned income tax credit (EITC), in which they can receive a refund that is actually larger than the amount they had withheld from their paychecks," said Phyllis Collins, financial and community investments director for the Greater Longview United Way.
   
   The local United Way is working with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for the first time this year to assist people with their taxes, although VITA has been available in Gregg County for the past several years. About 30 volunteers , including accounting students from LeTourneau, retirees and United Way staff members , will help people fill out their income tax forms.
   
   All volunteers must complete an online class and pass a test before they can assist people with their taxes, she said.
   
   "A lot of people are unaware of the earned income tax credit or think it applies only to those who have poverty-level incomes," Collins said. "Also, when the program began, families had to have at least one child to take part in it, but adults without children are now eligible."
   
   The VITA program can be used as an alternative to tax preparers that offer instant refunds, she said.
   
   "The important thing for people to be aware of is that an instant refund isn't really a check from the federal government," Collins said. "It's actually a loan from the tax preparer and, while it's a legitimate business transaction, it won't be for the full amount the filers would have received if they'd waited for their real refund."
   
   Taxpayers who file by mail will have a check issued within six weeks, she said.
   ...
   Collins said the average wait is about an hour.
   
   "We'd really encourage anybody with an income of $40,000 or less to take advantage of this program," Collins said.

2. 2. The Greater Longview United Way  /  Staff

   www.longviewunitedway.com/staf - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/23/2007   Last Visited: 7/23/2007

   Phyllis Collins pcollins@longviewunitedway.com Administrative Assistant

3. 3. www.longviewunitedway.com

   www.longviewunitedway.com/inde - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/3/2007   Last Visited: 12/3/2007

   Phyllis Collins Finance/Community Investment Director