Lawhelpmn.org Offers Free Tax Resources For The Public

Feb. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- St. Paul, MN – With the recession pushing more Americans into poverty, LawHelpMN.org offers critical help in learning about and obtaining much-needed tax credits. LawHelpMN.org, part of the national LawHelp.org network of nonprofit legal information portals, offers a variety of free tools and information for those grappling with tax preparation.  

Resources accessible from LawHelpMN.org include easy-to-understand information about both state and federal taxes, including fact sheets for those facing a variety of special circumstances; information about rebates and tax credits, including the earned income tax credit; links to sites offering free tax filing; referrals to organizations that offer free or low-cost help; information on avoiding tax scams; and more.  

“LawHelpMN.org contains seven tax-specific fact sheets, as well as links and resources for service providers working with low-income workers,” said Sarah Bronson of the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, an attorney who focuses on low-income tax issues.  “The tax fact sheets have been translated into several languages.”

LawHelpMN.org is Minnesota’s online source of free legal aid referrals, know-your-rights information and a variety of self-help tools.  LawHelpMN.org is maintained by the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition, in conjunction with Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit leader in increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged.  LawHelpMN.org was launched in 2003 and now serves more than 144,000 visitors a year.  Live navigational assistance is provided fives days per week.

“With millions of Americans facing job loss and other fallout from the economic crisis, it’s essential that families receive all the benefits they’re entitled to,” said Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of Pro Bono Net.  “LawHelp makes it easier for them to obtain these important benefits, and find other needed information, by putting tax resources, referrals and tools on one user-friendly site.”

About Minnesota Legal Services Coalition
Founded in 1981, the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC) is an association of seven Minnesota regional legal services programs.  Formed to enhance cooperation and coordination, MLSC supports providers of civil legal services to low-income persons throughout the state.  Among its activities, MLSC directly serves low-income Minnesotans through its various community legal education efforts.  For more information, visit www.mnlegalservices.org.

About Pro Bono Net
Pro Bono Net is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through increased volunteer lawyer participation and innovative uses of technology. Founded in 1998, Pro Bono Net has created a powerful network of nonprofit legal aid providers, courts and bar associations across the United States and Canada. This network uses two online platforms—www.probono.net and www.lawhelp.org—to recruit and manage volunteers, and to provide legal information and tools for low-income communities and the organizations that serve them.  For more information, visit www.probono.net.