KC CASH Coalition

The KC CASH Coalition, Inc. has been the provider of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance in the Kansas City metropolitan area since 2003. From a modest four locations and 974 returns prepared for Tax Year 2002, KC CASH has expanded to 17 fixed locations and expects to prepare 6,000 returns, at least 500 of which will be for small business owners, for Tax Year 2009.

Creating Assets, Savings & Hope

Comprised of over 35 government and community-based organizations, financial and educational institutions and the business community, KC CASH has been able to process $24.9 million in Federal EITC refunds, saving taxpayers over $3.5 million which has provided important resources not only for the low-income families who need them most, but also for stimulating the Kansas City Metro area. But KC CASH does more than just free tax preparation; they also provide EITC and Child Tax Credit outreach, connect taxpayers to financial literacy and asset building programs and promote community resources that assist families in reaching self-sufficiency.

Getting the Right Partners at the Table

Although KC CASH completed more than 250 Schedule C-EZ returns for Tax Year 2008, the upcoming tax season will be the first in which KC CASH is particularly emphasizing self-employed tax preparation. KC CASH has partnered with First Step Fund, an organization devoted to educating and developing micro-entrepreneurs. Both agencies will provide education and support to the others’ clients, and First Step Fund will provide flyers to encourage its clients to take advantage of the free tax preparation services offered by KC CASH. For its part, KC CASH will be providing special training to certain experienced volunteers and will advertise specific nights when the focus will be on completing Schedule C returns. To alleviate the concerns of IRS-SPEC, Schedule C returns will be prepared using the Beehive program.

The concept for the program is simple: Get the right partners at the table. KC CASH, First Step Fund, along with a third partner, the United Way of Greater Kansas City, are collaborating to make this program work. Each agency brings specific strengths to the program, and the support each one can offer will make it successful.

The KC CASH Coalition serves as a great example for other Volunteers in Tax Assistance coalitions looking to expand their services to include self-employed tax preparation.