AccountAbility MN Jobs in and around Moorhead, MN

Company:
AccountAbility MN
Current Opportunities (2)
Company Website
Location(s):
2300 Myrtle Avenue #180
St. Paul,  MN
55114
Map Location
Phone:
(651) 287-0187
Industry:
Non-Profit
Size:
11-19

Company Overview

AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM), a community-based nonprofit organization, is celebrating its 37th year of providing free tax and accounting assistance to low and moderate-income taxpayers in the Twin Cities’ area and across Greater Minnesota. In 1971, AAM's Taxpayer Services programs were established with the belief that an individual’s access to tax assistance and, by extension, important financial supports applied for through a tax return, should not depend solely on his or her ability to pay for such services.

AAM’s Mission: To reflect its increased level of service to the community, AAM’s Board of Directors set forth the following mission in the organization’s 2008 strategic plan:

AccountAbility Minnesota is dedicated to providing high quality tax preparation and related financial services to individuals and families of limited means by leveraging volunteer resources and advising and assisting others to provide similar services in their communities.

Highlights of 2008 accomplishments to date:
  • 17,000 low-income taxpayers received free tax assistance
  • 8,000 children benefited from the tax refunds
  • $25.1 million in cash refunds returned to low and moderate-income Minnesota families
  • 765 volunteers prepared over 35,000 tax returns
Each year AccountAbility Minnesota expands the number of taxpayers and communities served with free tax assistance. 2008 is no exception, which the following table illustrates:



AAM’s Volunteer Resources. The majority of tax preparation is accomplished by leveraging volunteer resources. AAM has 36 years of experience in both recruitment and training of volunteers to expertly complete tax returns and maximize tax credits for low-income working individuals, families and small businesses. AAM’s tax volunteers are among the most highly trained in the country and help accomplish the organization’s goals efficiently and with a human touch.

Need for AAM’s Services. Across the nation, public policy experts, lawmakers, and social service providers have seen that family-related tax credits offer essential financial assistance to millions of this country’s working poor. According to the Brookings Institution, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is by far the nation’s largest and most effective anti-poverty program lifting an average of five million Americans above the poverty line each year. In Minnesota, combined federal and state refunds can add up to almost half of an individual’s total annual income. For this reason, the value and importance of AccountAbility Minnesota’s Taxpayer Services have soared over the years.

However, there is a huge unmet need for free tax assistance across the state. According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates, only 75% - 80% of eligible households claim the ETIC. Thousands of eligible households do not file for these credits and the federal dollars go unclaimed. In addition, certain segments of the business community have targeted this population and are taking advantage of these substantial refunds to charge exorbitant fees and interest for tax preparation and refund anticipation loans (RALs).

Express Refund Loan and Savings Program (ERLS): In the Twin Cities, AAM has established partnerships with U.S Federal Credit Union and City & County Credit Union to provide an alternative to high interest Refund Anticipation Loans and access to savings accounts and other financial services. This groundbreaking program, the first such partnership in the country, offers qualified taxpayers a free refund loan, provided they open a no-fee savings account at the credit union. The goal is to help taxpayers establish a relationship with a mainstream financial institution as well as save them $200 - $500 in tax preparation, loan fees and interest. Since the program began in 2006, AAM tax site customers have opened over 1,300 savings accounts and taken over 700 free Express Refund Loans.

The People AAM Serves. The main beneficiaries of AAM’s programs are low-income taxpayers with annual income of $30,000 or less, families with annual income of $40,000 or less and self-employed taxpayers with annual income of $50,000 or less. However, the average annual income for AAM customers is just over $12,000. AAM has an impressive track record of reaching diverse populations with its services in the Twin Cities by establishing strong partnerships with community-based organizations that serve communities most in need. In 2008, 67% of AAM’s Twin Cities metro area customers were from communities of color and a full 24% described themselves as a person with a disability. Metro area customers also reported 61 different primary languages.

The following table reflects the populations served at AccountAbility Minnesota’s Twin Cities sites:



For more information contact:
Bonnie Esposito, Executive Director
651-287-0187, Ext. 105 / besposito@accountabilitymn.org
www.accountabilitymn.org