Opportunity Junction

How do I sign up for a session?

Please go to www.opportunityjunction.org/taxes and sign up there.  You must have an email account to participate.

What if I don't have an email account?

You can sign up for a free email account at www.yahoo.com.  Click on the button that says, "New Here? Sign up" and you will be taken to a screen where you can enter your personal information, then click the Sign Up button.  On the next screen, hit Continue and you are all done!

How do I qualify for the program?

To qualify for the program, you must have a Social Security Number or an Independent Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for each member of your family, and also qualify as low-income, based on the chart below.

Are there any limitations as to who can use the I-CAN eFile website?

Yes, because of the way the program is set up, it is suitable for the filing of basic tax forms only.  The following limitations apply:

Because of the scope of I-CAN!®, you should NOT use it if any of the following apply to you (or your spouse, if filing together):

• You do NOT have Social Security Numbers (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) that allow you to work in the U.S.
• (If you are filing a state return) You have lived and/or worked in more than one state during the year
• You are in the military
• You are a church employee or clergy member
• You are a non-resident alien (or you were a non-resident alien during any part of 2009)
• Your home address or your employer's address is in another country (including Mexico and Canada)
• You sold a home or any real estate
• You have a business OTHER THAN a single sole proprietorship
• You have an agreement to split credits, deductions or exemptions for your dependents with someone else
• You received dependent care benefits (W-2 Box 10) AND you are married filing separately
• You received dependent care benefits (W-2 Box 10) AND you have income or loss from a business, rental real estate or royalty property or you are married filing separately.
• You received social security income, have a retirement plan at work AND made IRA contributions.
• You received one or more 1099-R's with a distribution code OTHER THAN 1, 1&8, 2, 2&8, 3, 4, 4&G, 7, or G
• You received non-gaming tribal revenue
• You have a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) or SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers)
• You made contributions to or received distributions from an Archer MSA or MA MSA.
• You are in a registered domestic partnership and you want to file in California

Because of the scope of I-CAN!®, you should NOT use it if you (or your spouse, if filing together) have income or loss from any of the following:

• Business income OTHER THAN from a single sole proprietorship
• Foreign earned income
• Farm income
• Barter income
• IRA lump sum or rolling distributions
• Unreported tips from a job for which you received a 1099-MISC rather than a W-2
• A child's interest or dividends (unless it is the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and the child is under age 14 at the end of 2009)

What do I need to bring to the session?

• Social security numbers for the taxpayers and dependents
• All W-2 forms for the year from all employers
• If applicable, childcare and dependent care expenses, including the name, address, phone number, and Tax ID number of the childcare provider
• If applicable, the name, address, and telephone number of your landlord
• If applicable, any tax forms you received having to do with educational expenses for taxpayers and their dependents
• If applicable, bank account information so that your refunds can be directly deposited into your checking and savings accounts (deposit slips are a good source of this information)

When will I get my refund?

If you file electronically, and the IRS accepts your refund, and if you have direct deposit it typically takes 10-14 days to receive your refund. If you choose to have a check mailed to you, that can take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks.

Can I use the I-CAN eFile website on my own?

Yes, we encourage it!  If you go to our website (www.opportunityjunction.org/taxes) you can link to I-CAN eFile, and if you have questions you can always sign up for a session.

Do I need to wait until I get my W-2 form from my employer?

Yes, the W-2 has information necessary to complete returns.

What do I need to know about taxes?

Nothing!  The program has you enter in all of the information necessary to correctly calculate your Federal and California taxes.

Do I need to be able to use a computer?

Yes.  You need to be able to use email and the internet at a basic level.  However, no specialized knowledge is required.

Tax Assistance | What to Bring | Tax Assistance FAQ | Income Limits