With support from the City of Portland, CASH Oregon (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) completed a successful tax season [0], assisting over 1500 taxpayers at its free Tax Aide site in the Lloyd Center Mall. This year, CASH connected working families in Portland to over $440,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits and over $1 million in federal tax refunds. And, with the help of dedicated volunteer tax preparers, CASH saved working families over $330,000 in tax preparation fees.
Yet, CASH connected taxpayers to more than just tax credits and refunds; it also connected taxpayers to the Portland Clean River Rewards program. All taxpayers coming to CASH Oregon's Lloyd Center office received information about the program and were able to talk a representative from the Clean River Rewards, who signed up eligible customers for the program as they waited to have their taxes prepared. Taxpayers who did not qualify for assistance were encouraged to spread the word about the discount. The CASH Oregon tax office provides a convenient and comfortable platform for working families in Portland to access the City discount program.
As a result of the City's partnership with CASH Oregon, many Portland taxpayers left the Lloyd Center Mall tax site with extra money to spend on their families or save for the future. In some households, refunds and water bill savings provided the resources necessary to satisfy immediate financial needs, such as paying bills or purchasing children's clothing. In other households, however, the returns provided the resources necessary to plan a solid financial future. As the relationship between the City of Portland and CASH Oregon continues to grow, the future financial stability of working families in Portland looks bright.