Season to "Sell" Your Tax Refund

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Poor "Sell" Taxes

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"I think I'll sell my taxes," a long time Downtown Eastside resident told me this weekend.  Having been on welfare only part of last year and having done casual jobs for a few months, he has a sizeble tax refund coming.  And like many people, he doesn't want to wait for it.  

I knew last week that the T-4 slips had come out when, on Monday Feb. 23 at around 3 p.m., I walked by H & R Block Tax Services on Main St. near Carnegie and there was a crowd of people outside.  A woman waiting in the crowd was loudly explaining that H & R Block wasn't taking any more people that day, that they had given out tickets but they had stopped at 165.

"Nobody gets you money faster, instant cash back", blares a sign in the window of H & R Block.  If you take in your T-4 slip, H & R Block will do  your taxes and give you the refund right away, but they take a cut of your refund.  That's why the poor say they are going to "sell my taxes".  

I was surprised that so many people were in need of quick cash on Feb. 23.   Welfare day had just been the previous Wednesday. 

Reprinted from Downtown Eastside Enquirer blog with permission.