Central Oregon taxpayers thank Latino Community Association for help filing tax returns

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Spanish-speaking taxpayers expressed gratitude for the free help they received from the Latino Community Association to file their tax forms this season. Those who lacked a Social Security number got an ITIN (taxpayer Identification number) at the same time. 

This is the third year LCA has offered tax preparation in partnership with the AARP Tax-Aide program. Staff and volunteers filled more than 450 appointments in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville for the program, which ended on March 30. 

“The partnership between LCA and AARP is eliminating some of the following barriers: language, trust, ITIN petition or renewal, plain language explanation, and convenience,” said Milagros Aparicio, LCA’s tax program coordinator.

Cost is also a factor. For two years, a taxpayer from Redmond had been paying a preparer more than $400 to file their return, according to the tax team. LCA completed the 2023 return for free.

A client in Madras thanked LCA for helping to get her tangled taxes up-to-date following a divorce. “Thanks to you, now I feel calm,” she told our staff. With her refund, she paid the fees to file for her US citizenship.