By Shawn Magrath

Sun Staff Writer

smagrath@evesun.com

NORWICH – As the filing deadline for tax season draws near, a volunteer group in Chenango and Madison counties is once again lending a helping hand in tax preparation for qualifying families and individuals.

Continuing a longstanding tradition, the Chenango and Madison County CASH (Creating Assets Savings and Hope) Coalition is coming together to offer free volunteer income tax assistance to residents living in the two counties. If your household income was less than $50,000 through employment in 2012, you may be eligible for tax preparation free of charge this tax season.

“This is such a great public assistance program through the IRS,” explained volunteer coordinator and tax preparer Alice Andrews, who is now in her ninth year of working with the coalition. “Taxes can scare people, but they usually feel comfortable about coming to us ... We want to let people know that this is absolutely free. The people who do the taxes are trained by the IRS and we try to do the best job possible for the people that do come to us.”