It’s that time of year again – no, not just Spring — tax season! While it may seem like a daunting, costly, and stressful process, you may be able to get help for free.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is an IRS-initiative that offers free basic tax help for those who qualify. VITA programs are led by VITA volunteers that are IRS-certified and are trained by IRS-certified instructors. VITA volunteers must also pass a certification exam before assisting taxpayers.
Who qualifies for this assistance?
Generally, if you earned less than $56,000, have a disability, or speak limited English, you are eligible.
There are ten VITA tax preparation sites around the surrounding areas that can help you file your taxes at no cost. One of those sites is right here on campus; visit room 135 in the O’Connor building on Fridays from 2:00 – 6:00 PM, Saturdays from 1:00 – 6:00 PM, and Sundays from 1:00 – 6:00 PM. No appointments are necessary; all visits are first-come, first-served.
Islanders, you have about a month to file your taxes before the April 15th deadline; gather all the required documents and take advantage of this free service.
You can find a complete list of other VITA tax preparation sites and what documents to take here. You can also print out a handy PDF from that same website.
For more information contact Jamey Byrne with the United Way of the Coastal Bend, jamey.byrne@uwcb.org .
Vanessa Claros
