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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Cherokee Nation is helping make tax preparation easier by assisting taxpayers with filing income tax forms free of charge. The Cherokee Nation has established income tax help offices at 10 sites throughout the tribe’s 14-county jurisdictional area. Clients do not have to be Cherokee Nation tribal citizens to receive assistance with tax preparation.

Tax help is provided by community volunteers through the Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) Program. Volunteers attend training provided by the Internal Revenue Service to stay up to date on tax laws, and are tested each year to retain their tax preparer certifications.

"Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," said Pam Bakke, with Cherokee Nation Community Services. "Clients need to make sure they bring the necessary paperwork with them."

The necessary paperwork is some form of identification, a copy of last year’s tax forms and social security numbers for everyone in the household, W-2s and any 1099s.

"If you got a state refund last year, bring a copy of that and any interest you may have earned on accounts such as a checking or savings accounts, any tuition statements, student loan repayment statements, IRA statements, child care receipts, charitable contribution receipts, home mortgage interest payment statements and other itemizations you want to claim," Bakke said.

Tax preparers can also file income tax returns electronically. To receive a refund electronically, clients should bring a voided check from their checking account.

Last year, the Cherokee Nation helped 1,144 people file their returns. Those 1,144 people received a combined total of $1,084,696 in refunds including $274,800 in earned income credit from the Internal Revenue Service.

"That is a big boom to the area economy," said Sandy Long, a Cherokee Nation employee who has been a volunteer tax preparer for 24 years.

The Cherokee Nation will be assisting tax payers at the following locations. Please call for an appointment.

Tahlequah
Cherokee Nation Adult Education Center
122 East Choctaw
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
(918) 458-0484 or (918) 458-0577

Cherokee Nation Complex
Community Services office
17675 South Muskogee Avenue
Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Call Pam Bakke at (918) 456-0671, ext. 2347

Sallisaw
Cherokee Nation Career Services Office
1504 West Chickasaw
Mondays and Tuesdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.,
Wednesdays from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., and
Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Call Molly Pettit - (918) 776-0416

Stilwell
Cherokee Nation Career Services office in
the National Guard Armory 412 West Pine
Monday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., and Tuesday
through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Call Frankie Hargus at (918) 696-3124 or (918) 696-6809

Pryor
Cherokee Nation Career Services Office
133 Cherokee Heights
February 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 28, March 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14,
15, 18, 28, 29, April 6, 7, and 13 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Call Michelle Sixkiller at (918) 824-1722

Catoosa
Cherokee Nation Career Services Office
101 Dembo Street
February 10, 16, 17, 23, 23, March 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17,
30, 31, April 6, 7, and 13. from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Call Michelle Sixkiller at (918) 824-1722

Bartlesville
Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation office
at Keeler Heights 1003 S. Virginia Street
February 14 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Call Michelle Sixkiller at (918) 824-1722

Related Cherokee Nation 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