Convinced you are entitled to more money on your tax return, but not sure how to file without spending your hard-earned cash? If you made less than $31,000 in 2012 (more for active-duty military personnel and some families), you may be able to get free, professional help this Wednesday.

The Mountain View Public Library is holding a free tax return preparation event on March 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. At the event, volunteer tax professionals will help qualifying individuals and families file tax returns -- keeping an eye out for all possible deductions and providing information on the Earned Income Tax Credit.

According to event coordinator Roxana Damas, the tax professionals will be focusing on the EITC, because it is often missed by people who file their own returns, even though the credit has the potential to boost tax returns by as much as $5,891.

"A lot of people don't claim it because they don't know about it," Damas said of the EITC. Damas works for the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which worked with locally based software company Intuit -- maker of TurboTax -- to organize the event.

Damas said tax professionals will be walking people through the process, using TurboTax software to fill out returns, find deductions and teach participants how to be more self-sufficient in filling out tax forms. Whether people are filing W2s, 1099s, or a mix of both, the tax professionals at the event should be able to help, Damas said.

"We really want to help people understand their taxes and not be intimidated by them," she said. "The idea is that people will be able to take control of their finances if they understand it."

Walk-ins will be welcome, but interested individuals are encouraged to call 1-866-577-1231 to make an appointment. The tax volunteers will be able to help about 100 people over the course of the day, Damas said. When she spoke with the Voice about 70 people had already called to reserve a slot.

The event will be held on the second floor of the library in the computer training center. The library is located at 585 Franklin St. in Mountain View.

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