This spring, the City’s Office of Economic Development (ED) sponsored Tax Help Santa Fe LLC to help Santa Fe residents prepare and  submit their taxes for 2021. The $15,000 sponsorship allowed Tax Help Santa Fe to support community members in need of a tax professional on a sliding payment scale, with no fees charged for Social Security incomes or incomes under $1,000. With ED’s support, Tax Help Santa Fe was successful in securing in substantial tax refunds for the over 6,000 program participants.

The community members who participated in the program this year received federal tax refunds totaling over $6.1 million dollars, and  total New Mexico State refunds of $1.7 million dollars. Community members paid an average of $47 for services.

Low-income groups accounted for most of the State’s Low Income, Property Tax and Working Families rebates, while middle-income groups received most of the Federal refunds, primarily through Child Tax Credits and Earned Income Credits. Due to state law changes, rebates in New Mexico increased by forty-percent this year.

Community members who benefited the most from the services had incomes in the $0-$25,000 range and were also the group who participated in the program in the highest numbers for 2022. The Office of Economic Development plans to review renewal of the sponsorship for next year.