Community Forum: Eligible South Texans should use IRS Free File tax program

To the editor:
Despite the onerous task of filing income tax returns, a quick and simple program is available for many that can greatly ease the burden.

Taxpayers who made less than $57,000 in 2009 can utilize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File program, which offers a simple and free method of filing taxes online.

I urge everyone who meets the income requirement with access to the internet to take advantage of this program, made possible through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance.

The Alliance is a group of industryleading tax software providers that began providing this service with IRS in 2003.

The program is not only completely free and secure, but taxpayers who use Free File with direct deposit can receive their refunds in as little as 10 days.

Offered in both English and Spanish, Free File tax preparation is designed to ask simple questions and place the responses on the correct forms.

Furthermore, the program performs all the math and even checks for accuracy.

Taxes can be filed day or night through this system, and the IRS will send the user a confirmation within 48 hours.

While the IRS may not be able to claim that filing taxes is fun, they can take credit along with the Alliance for making the process much simpler and quicker for many deserving Americans, including those in South Texas.

Taxpayers at this income level — particularly those who must pay taxes — can benefit from not having to pay a tax service to prepare their returns.

The Free File program provides that opportunity to more than 25 million people nationwide. Just visit www.IRS.gov and submit your taxes by the April 15 deadline.

For those who do not qualify for the program, please share this information with others who may be eligible and are not aware they can file tax returns easily and without a service charge.
State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.
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Please continue Turner’s good work
To the editor:
I would like to extend the remarks of Sgt. Stephen Mayer (VMS, Feb. 28, 2010) regarding Sgt. Richard Turner upon his retirement from the Harlingen Police Department after 37 years of dedicated service to our community.

In recent years Sgt. Turner focused on crimes against children, especially child abuse, child neglect, and sexual abuse.

These forms of violence are especially troubling for those who must deal with them. To his great credit, Sgt. Turner has done so with his wits (and wit) intact. Not only has he been effective in the field, he has also mentored younger members of the department.

I hope the HPD will continue to assign and support officers in the work to protect children in our community.
Stanley I. Fisch, M.D., presiding officer,
Child Fatality Review Team of Cameron/Willacy County, Harlingen
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