Q & A with CCA Income Tax Service

DGKN staff report

Editor’s note: As Dalton Village Council prepares to hear a third reading to switch income tax service to the Central Collection Agency, we asked for questions on our Facebook page and presented all three questions/comments that we received, as well as posed a few of our own, to Kevin L. Preslan, CPA, JD, income tax administrator, for the City of Cleveland, Division of Taxation (CCA). Here are his responses:

1. Will there be additional costs that the taxpayers will have to pay for this service?
The taxpayer will not incur any additional costs as it relates to the Village of Dalton using the Central Collection Agency (CCA) for income tax collection and administration. Costs are deducted from the amount collected by CCA based on the current local income tax structure within the Village.

2. a.) Why not go with a local tax service/accountant vs. going with one based not only out of the city but out of the county as well?
b. I’m sure this will be more costly than hiring a local accountant, of which there are many in Dalton.
Due to the number of member communities within CCA, we are able to spread the costs of income tax administration over a larger number of dollars and municipalities than a local tax service could. Therefore, the actual cost of collection incurred by the Village of Dalton may actually be less than what would be incurred otherwise.

3. If I have a question before or during preparing my taxes, such as what form to use or a specific question about an item, can I talk to someone over the phone or meet with someone in person with my questions? Also, do I have options of mailing in my return or filing online?
CCA has numerous ways that a taxpayer can communicate with us. A taxpayer can contact CCA by phone, e-mail, fax, regular mail, and in person. We currently are not offering in-person taxpayer assistance due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in-person assistance is a service that we have previously provided and will provide in the future.
We also have typically offered on-site, in-person taxpayer for member communities to help taxpayers prepare their returns during filing season at no cost. As a result of the pandemic, we did not offer this service this year. However, we did initiate a mail-in program that allowed taxpayers to fill out a form and mail in their tax documentation so that CCA can prepare the tax return for the taxpayer at no cost.
Lastly, taxpayers have the option to drop off their tax return and supporting documentation at drop boxes located at our offices. Taxpayers are also able to eFile returns through our website.

4. Are there other nearby municipalities that use this service? A complete list of members can be found on CCA’s website at: http://ccatax.ci.cleveland.oh.us/?p=ccamap. It can also be found on CCA’s main webpage by clicking on “CCA Member Municipalities” on the left side of the page.

5. What are a couple of the biggest advantages for Dalton to use CCA for tax services? There are several advantages for the Village of Dalton to use CCA for income tax collection and administration.

1. Due to the number of member communities within CCA, we are able to spread the costs of income tax administration over a larger number of dollars and municipalities than a local tax service could. Therefore, the actual cost of collection incurred by the Village may actually be less than what would be incurred otherwise.
2. CCA has numerous ways that a taxpayer can communicate with us. A taxpayer can contact CCA by phone, e-mail, fax, regular mail, and in person. We currently are not offering in-person taxpayer assistance due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in-person assistance is a service that we have previously provided and will provide in the future.
We also have typically offered on-site, in-person taxpayer assistance for member communities to help taxpayers prepare their returns during filing season at no cost. As a result of the pandemic, we did not offer this service this year. However, we did initiate a mail-in program that allowed taxpayers to fill out a form and mail in their tax documentation so that CCA can prepare the tax return for the taxpayer at no cost.
Lastly, taxpayers also have the option to drop off their tax return and supporting documentation at drop boxes located at our offices. Taxpayers are also able to eFile returns through our website.
3. CCA has provided income tax collection and administration services to member communities since 1967. Our staff has the knowledge and expertise to assist taxpayers with any questions or issues that may arise at any time of the year​​.