WashingtonLawHelp.org Offers Tax Help for the Public

Feb. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Contact:   Danielle Rebar, Northwest Justice Project
206.464.1519
danieller@nwjustice.org


Legal Portal Features Self-help Resources, Information, Referrals

Seattle, WA – Feb. 18, 2010

With the recession pushing more Americans into poverty, Washington LawHelp, www.washingtonlawhelp.org, offers critical help in learning about and obtaining much-needed tax credits. Washington LawHelp, 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 Washington LawHelp include easy-to-understand information about both state and federal taxes, including 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.  

The site includes a link to a free electronic filing system known as I-CAN! E-File.  I-CAN! E-File, which was developed by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, can be used to file federal returns.

Washington LawHelp is Washington’s online source of free legal aid referrals, know-your-rights information and a variety of self-help tools.  Washington LawHelp is maintained by the Northwest Justice Project, in conjunction with Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit leader in increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged.  Washington LawHelp was launched in 2002 and now serves more than 480,000 visitors a year.  Both LawHelp.org and I-CAN! E-File, the free electronic tax filing system, were developed with support from the Legal Services Corporation.

“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.”

NJP is a not-for-profit statewide law firm that provides free civil legal assistance and representation to low-income people and communities throughout Washington.  Each year NJP handles approximately 18,000 cases benefiting more that 40,000 people in need of critical legal assistance in cases affecting basic human needs such as family safety and security, housing preservation, protection of income, access to health care, education and other basic needs.  For more information, visit www.nwjustice.org.

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.

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About Washington LawHelp: Washington LawHelp is a guide to free civil legal services for low-income persons and seniors in Washington. This site provides legal education materials and tools that give you basic information on a number of legal problems, and in some cases, detailed instructions and forms to help you represent yourself in court.