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The Cherokee Nation is seeking organizations to host electronic income tax preparation for people in Rogers, Nowata, Craig, and Washington counties.

The Cherokee Nation has formed a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service to increase the reach of the Earned Income Tax Credit and facilitate electronic filing of individual tax returns. Through the partnership the IRS is providing computers and software for the project and the Cherokee Nation is coordinating the locations, volunteers and training.

"We want local people to save as much money as possible on their taxes by helping them determine whether they are eligible for certain tax credits and then help them to file their returns electronically to ensure an accurate and timely refund," said Stephanie Sharp, tax project team member for the Cherokee Nation.

Tax preparation sites have been secured in Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Delaware, Mayes, and Muskogee counties. The computers will be set up in places such as libraries, community buildings, and Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation field sites. The community organization hosting the site is responsible for locating and organizing volunteers. The hosting organization may retain the computers provided for income tax preparation after tax season ends.

Community volunteers will be trained through the Cherokee Nation Adult Education Program on how to prepare simple income tax returns. After completing the six-hour class and passing a test, the volunteers will be certified to prepare simple income tax returns and file them electronically. They will learn how to prepare Federal forms as well as Arkansas and Oklahoma state forms. Electronically filing tax returns means a quicker refund for citizens. Eligible people are also more likely to receive an Earned Income and/or Child Tax Credit when a trained person figures their taxes.

"They will be able to e-file directly to Federal and State," said Landra Alberty, GED Examiner with Cherokee Nation Adult Education.

If your organization is interested in hosting a tax preparation site in your community, please contact Sandy Long, phone: 918-456-0671 ext. 2933 or Stephanie Sharp, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2886).