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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Free Tax Preparation

Local taxpayers can get their tax returns prepared for free with Community Link as part of the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Any household earning less than $57,000 qualifies for the service.

March 8, 2021

Update: Tax Filing Date Has Been Extended to May 17

Tax season is here again and local taxpayers can now get their tax returns prepared for free with Community Link as part of the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

For half a century, VITA has offered free tax preparation assistance to elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income households. This program has benefited thousands of lower-income individuals and families. VITA received a substantial boost this year when Congress increased funding to $30 million, the maximum amount allowable. Generally, VITA’s free tax help is available to: 

  • People who make $57,000 or less annually 
  • People with disabilities 
  • Taxpayers with limited English language proficiency 

In Mecklenburg County, Community Link coordinates the VITA program. This year, due to the pandemic, all tax preparation services are being conducted virtually and contact-free.
Taxpayers should visit Community Link’s VITA site for more information and to sign up for a virtual appointment.
To reach Community Link by phone, call (704) 943-9490 or (800) 977-1969.

If you live outside of Mecklenburg County, search for VITA sites near you by entering your zip code into the VITA/TCE Locator Tool.  

In addition to VITA, the IRS also offers Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), which focuses on tax questions and issues relevant to senior citizens. The AARP’s Tax-Aide Program operates many of these sites. Find locations near you via the Tax-Aide Site Locator. 

Taxpayers with income above the VITA limit can file their taxes online for free via IRS Free File. Available options depend on whether the filer’s adjusted gross income is above or below $72,000. 

For more information on filing taxes during these turbulent times, check out Get the Most Out of Your Tax Refund in 2021 from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

The deadline for filing tax returns this year is May 17. 

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Community Link, Financial Security, Free Tax Preparation, VITA

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  • Four Ways to Help Families This Spring
  • Will Medicaid Expansion Help Mecklenburg?
  • Four women who appear to be Black and varying ages hug themselves to illustrate "Embrace Equity"International Women’s Day 2023: Embrace Equity
  • Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes
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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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  • (704) 371-3001
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID
    EIN 56-1416719

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Recent Photos

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What's in your closet that could help out a neighbor in the warmer months? 
Spring has sprung here in the Queen City. That means the needs of families shopping, free of charge, at @CrisisAssistMin are changing too. 
You can help meet their needs with donations of new or gently used clothing, shoes, or household goods or by signing up as a volunteer to help receive, inspect, and prepare donations for shoppers.

crisisassistmin

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What do you do when you miss out on the big dance? 
Well, these Charlotte area #Tarheels pitched in to unload a truckload of donated goods and prepare them for families who shop free of charge in the Free Store. Thanks to these @charlottecarolinaclub #volunteers, it's always a #GDTBATH! 
THANKS for all you do to give back in #CLT.

crisisassistmin

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Happy St Patrick's Day!  This big ole batch of 400+ granola bars will provide a little bit of sustenance to waiting families thanks to @MeckKidz from @meckchurch. Youth used "Meck Bucks" earned for participation in activities to purchase bars for the snack ministry here @CrisisAssistMin

crisisassistmin

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We loved hosting these visiting Bisons from @howard1867 as they lived out their motto of Excellence in Truth & Service here in #CLT. Thanks to them families will find essentials, free of charge, here in the @CrisisAssistMin Free Store. #volunteers

crisisassistmin

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Happy International Women's Day!
Today we take a look at how this year's theme of Embrace Equity affects the people (and mostly the women) served here at Crisis Assistance Ministry every day.

Observed worldwide on March 8 as a celebration of “the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” International Women’s Day is also a global call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Embrace Equity.” Organizers at International Women’s Day (IWD) encourage everyone to “Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.” 

While great strides in gender equality have been achieved since women gained the right to vote in 1920, there is still much work ahead. Consider these indicators of the gender gap in the United States:
- Women full-time workers earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
- American women earn less than men in all industries, with the most significant pay gaps in management positions
- The construction industry has the smallest gender pay gap, but only 9% of construction workers are women
- Unpaid work like housekeeping and caring for children falls mainly to women 

Read More at the link in our bio

crisisassistmin

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The theme for Black History Month 2023 is “Resistance”, a single word that encompasses so much. Through the centuries, a long line of brave and committed Black Americans have battled injustice, some on the public stage and others behind the scenes. But for every high-profile or large-scale act of resistance, countless others go unnoticed. Every day at @CrisisAssistMin, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.
Read "Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo" at the link in our profile.

crisisassistmin

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It was a beautiful weekend to share (more than) @onewarmcoat with our neighbors! Our friends from One Warm Coat finished up their working retreat by distributing brand new coats to families right here in our parking lot. So many smiles, a few tears of relief, and a lot of runway spins were shared.

crisisassistmin

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We 💙 💙 💙 it when community members create their own "Army" to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in each others' lives. Thanks to these #volunteers from "Eric's Army," shoppers this week found essentials like clothing, shoes, and household goods free of charge. Together, we #preservedignity for #CLT families who are struggling financially.

crisisassistmin

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We're excited to have @QCfamilytree share their expertise as our staff digs into the impact of systemic racism here in Mecklenburg County and its impact on the people served here. Thanks Greg, Helms, & Shamaiye for taking time to help us begin these important conversations.

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