RETIRED EDUCATOR HELPS PEOPLE WITH TAX FACTS OF LIFE

Like most Americans, Sheila Caskey has strong feelings about taxes.

"I don't believe people who don't make a lot of money should have to go pay 50 bucks to file their taxes," the retired university dean says.

It's that philosophy that leads her to volunteer at the East Missouri Action Agency during tax season to help low-income individuals and families fill out and electronically file their income taxes.

The service is free for anyone who makes less than $30,000 a year.

Caskey, who has an infectious laugh and can casually ease clients' frayed nerves, derives much satisfaction from helping people get the refunds and credits they have coming to them.

"Since we can electronically file, it's a boon for people who don't make a lot but have money coming back to them," she said as she examined an electronic tax form on her computer monitor.

"What most people don't know -- and this blew me away the first year -- is that a lot of people don't understand taxes at all and they're totally intimidated."

Caskey said she finds that many people are unaware of tax credits that are available to them. For instance, she said, a property tax credit is available for people over 65 or those who are under 65 but 100 percent disabled. The credit allows them to get as much as $750 refunded for house or rent payments.

Other credits people sometimes overlook include Missouri's pharmaceutical credit and the federal earned income credit.

"We will help them with those forms. We've had 20 people come in just for the pharmaceutical credit," she said. "The first year I worked here, we probably have six people come in for the property tax credit. Last year, we had a couple dozen."

Though Caskey has no formal accounting training, she breezed through the Internal Revenue Service's exam for volunteers who want to help others file taxes. She said she used to help her friends file their taxes and has always done her own. She got started with the East Missouri Action Agency after spotting its newspaper ads seeking tax volunteers.

"I through, Gee, that would be fun to do when I retire,'" said Caskey.

"You don't have to have an accounting background to do this," she said. "We do it electronically, so you don't have to do any math. I think you just have to understand numbers and understand the tax process."

But Caskey has made it her mission to help her clients develop an understanding of different types of taxes, deductions, dependents, withholding and refunds. Last year, she helped about 150 people.

Didn't know where to turn

Loretta May of Fruitland, Mo., recently became unemployed but needed help filing this year's tax return. She didn't have extra money to hire a professional accountant and wasn't sure where to turn.

Her daughter steered her to Caskey.

After about a 20-minute visit with Caskey Thursday afternoon, May was on her way, paperwork in hand.

"I am so excited about this," May said. "It really helped because I was down to my last money because I'm out of work. In two weeks, I'll have my refund."

Freddie Morris of Cape Girdeau also sought help with his taxes through Caskey and the East Missouri Action Agency. Last year, he paid $50 for professional tax help.

But because he is disabled and unemployed, the $50 is hard to come by, and he was elated when he found out about Caskey's assistance.

"It's great when you can laugh and talk and get your taxes done," he said. "To have someone like her is a really good thing."

NEED HELP"

For tax-filing help from the East Missouri Action Agency, call 334-5533.