A recent survey conducted for United Way Worldwide found that 72% of the individuals surveyed were unaware that they qualified for free tax preparation and assistance through the VITA program and MyFreeTaxes.com.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a national program that offers free tax assistance for individuals and families with household incomes of $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking taxpayers. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic tax return preparation with electronic filing, and inform taxpayers about special tax credits they may qualify for such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. This assistance can help families maximize their return and save money on tax preparation expenses.
You can schedule your appointment for free, in-person tax preparation and assistance by calling 2-1-1. Appointments will be made until April 18, 2017. Last year, 2-1-1 made over 11,000 VITA appointments. There are over 36 VITA sites across the state for individuals and families to receive in-person assistance.
Eligible individuals may also use MyFreeTaxes.com to file their taxes for free at home. If you make under $64,000 per year, you can file your taxes for free online using H&R Block's easy and accurate tax preparation software. This is a great option for a variety of people, including young adults. If you have any questions while filing call the MyFreeTaxes.com helpline at 1-855-698-9435, or you can call 2-1-1 to make an in-person appointment with a local VITA volunteer.
Getting started is easy – Dial 2-1-1 to make your appointment and use this helpful tax preparation checklist to get ready.