LEWISTON — As the tax season kicks off, Lewiston’s free tax preparation program — where IRS-certified volunteers have helped hundreds of people get millions back in refunds — has new leadership.

The Lewiston-Auburn CA$H Coalition is led by Sue Martin, site coordinator, and Linda Cronkite, asset manager.

The L-A CA$H Coalition offers free tax preparations for anyone, not just Lewiston residents.

Martin is a retired administrator with the Lewiston School Department; Cronkite is a retired teacher.

Since the L-A CA$H Coalition began in 2004, it’s been managed by K.C. Geiger, who this year is serving as assistant site coordinator. Under Geiger, the program has gained state and national recognition.

Geiger said he got involved “to help people avoid paying crazy money to get their taxes done.”

“Some pay $250,” Geiger said. “It’s not that hard. Each day, we get 40 or 50 people who walk out saying, ‘This is such a great service.’ Everybody appreciates what we do.”

What’s nice is that volunteers aren’t helping an unknown person — they see who they’re helping, Geiger said.

The L-A CA$H Coalition ensures that households that qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit get the credit, which can save a household hundreds or thousands of dollars. In 2015, the average EITC in Maine was $2,108, according to the IRS.

LA Cash is reviewed by the IRS and is “an extremely well-oiled machine,” Martin said.

The IRS has given Lewiston’s programs great reviews, she added.

Last year, Lewiston helped 1,950 households with their federal tax returns and 2,120 state returns, with the assistance of 30 volunteer tax preparers, Martin said. The tax preparations are done at the Lewiston Memorial Armory on Central Avenue.

There are 16 sites in Maine that offer a similar program.

“We are, by far, the biggest site,” Cronkite said. “People are already saying, ‘When are you going to start?’”

Answer: Phone lines go live Jan. 16. Tax preparers start doing taxes on Jan. 26 at the Lewiston Memorial Armory on Central Avenue. The big day is Super Refund Saturday, Feb. 18.

Martin said she agreed to manage the program to get involved with a worthy project.

“I had prepared taxes as a volunteer one year,” Martin said. “It was such a rewarding experience. These are hardworking people who don’t always realize they’re eligible for an earned income credit or a refund. They are so grateful. It’s so nice to see hardworking people access something they deserve.”

The program also helps people with their state taxes, which helps many retirees get a a credit on their property taxes.

The program uses two kinds of volunteers, tax preparers and greeters. The greeters, which Cronkite will oversee, have a list of necessary documents people need to file. Greeters help people coming in with bags of W2s and other documents get organized. For instance, this year, everyone must bring in their Social Security cards.

“That’s new this year,” Cronkite said.

An additional benefit is that greeters recommend different programs that can help, from government heating assistance to private bank programs to start savings accounts.

Another founder of the program, in addition to Geiger, is Dot Perham-Whittier, Lewiston City Hall community relations coordinator. She got the program going after learning in 2004 that 20 percent of people who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit didn’t file for it.

Perham-Whittier gathered a community team that recruited trained volunteers.

Free tax prep phones go live Jan. 16 in L-A

LEWISTON — To call for an appointment to get your taxes done in Lewiston, call 207-513-3160 starting on Jan. 16. Tax preparations begin Jan. 26.

A tax preparation program is also available to Auburn residents, run by AARP. The program is open to all ages. Call the Auburn number at 207-513-3170 after Jan. 16 to make an appointment. Tax preparations in Auburn also begin Jan. 26.

Those who want an appointment should call the appropriate number above and leave their name and number. Each call will be returned by a volunteer, who will make an appointment and review items that the participant will need to bring with them.

Super Refund Saturday will be Feb. 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Lewiston Memorial Armory on Central Avenue. The gym will also house a financial resource fair on that date.