RealSense helps local chef with money-saving review of tax return

As the young executive chef of a local wine bar and restaurant, Peter Gil is no stranger to stressful and complex situations. He regularly balances the needs of over 25 tables, oversees back-of-house operations, manages a staff of 10, and develops recipes and menus year-round. The kitchen is a well-oiled machine under his hand.

A proud son of Cuban immigrants, Peter values his independence and self-sufficiency. “I started working as a chef straight out of high school,” he said. “I have loved what I do since day one.”

Peter usually does his taxes himself through a tax preparation software. When his 2023 taxes came back as owing $900, however, he was absolutely shocked. He had never paid so much in taxes before, and nothing about his employment had changed. He had no idea why he was being charged so much so he knew he needed help.

He needed an expert to confirm the amount he owed. If he did owe that much, he wanted to know why. Not wanting to potentially pay hundreds of additional dollars to an accountant or fee-based tax return preparer, he turned to RealSense.

RealSense, United Way of Northeast Florida’s VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) and TCE (tax counseling for the elderly) programs, is dedicated to helping local families and individuals file taxes at no cost. RealSense’s IRS-certified volunteers provide essential support to low-to-moderate-income families, ensuring they receive the refunds and credits they’ve earned without the burden of costly tax preparation fees.

While the IRS provides funds for VITA and TCE programs, the tax sites themselves are operated by IRS partners, like United Way RealSense. The sites are staffed by committed volunteers who want to make a difference in their community. Last year alone, RealSense helped over 9,000 families and individuals in Northeast Florida with their taxes, putting almost $14 million back into the community.

In addition to tax preparation services, RealSense can also provide a second opinion when you’re unsure if your predicted tax return is accurate, as in Peter’s situation. Having heard about RealSense from a family member, Peter scheduled an appointment with his nearest tax site to have a certified IRS tax preparer go through the entire tax-filing process with him for free. Through the quality review process, the tax preparer discovered an error was made in the health insurance application process. This meant Peter did unfortunately owe the IRS $900 in taxes.

Thankfully, United Way’s experienced RealSense tax preparers knew exactly what to do. Once the tax site preparer finished preparing Peter’s tax return, the site’s quality reviewer guided Peter through setting up a payment plan through the IRS. The tax site quality reviewer then helped him send the final package off to the IRS.

“RealSense’s services are not only free, they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns,” said Steve Norris, the RealSense tax manager. “The goal is to provide stellar tax preparation services while educating taxpayers like Peter through what can sometimes be a very daunting process.”

Ultimately, RealSense saved Peter what could have been hundreds of dollars in tax return consultation and preparation fees.

“The people of the RealSense team were very helpful and kind,” said Peter. “The man who helped me showed me all the steps needed and explained to me how to do it myself for the future. Super quick — I was there an hour and a half max.”

Peter is paying off the last of his 2023 taxes. He says he intends on continuing to file his own taxes but is comforted by the knowledge RealSense is there if he ever needs a second opinion.

To learn more about RealSense or set up an appointment during tax season, click here.