Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation recently assisted over 800 local families with tax preparations resulting in refunds totaling more than $700,000.

Volunteers, in a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), assisted with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

"Volunteers, trained by the IRS, prepared and electronically filed simple tax returns for lower income families, free of charge", said Shirley Raymond, senior tax specialist for the IRS.

"We must get certified every year", said Sandy Long, archival specialist for the Cherokee Nation and a VITA volunteer. "We must learn the new tax laws and we have to take a test before we can assist the community."

The VITA program assisted with 882 tax forms this year. Those 882 tax forms yielded $777,228 in returned refunds with the average refund being around $880.

"Probably 80 to 90 percent received a refund", Raymond said.

"One of the main goals of the VITA program is to ensure all eligible taxpayers receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)", Raymond said.

"The VITA program is a very good program", said Fredia Vann, who used the program. "It helps people who don’t know a lot about the new tax laws get the help they need. Some people who use the program wouldn’t trust someone they don’t know. This is why the community members that do this have such a good turnout."

"One individual hadn’t done their taxes for three years", Long said. "They got back some for each year."

"We don’t discriminate", said Victor Vance, community services manager. "We will help anyone that needs the help."

"This is my 22nd year working with VITA,” Long said. "We usually see the same people over and over. Most want the same person to help them because they have a trusting relationship with them."

"We’ve done VITA for years, partnering with the IRS for the last three years and the results have been great", Vance said. "It just shows what positive government to government relations can do."

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org