Rep. Doggett Helps Kick Off VITA's Free Tax Prep in San Antonio
From the City of San Antonio:
(San Antonio, TX) Tax season hasarrived – the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is ready tohelp.<?xml:namespace prefix = o>
Twenty-three VITA sites openedacross the city on Wednesday, January 30. Individuals and householdswho earned up to $55,000 in total income last year are eligible for free incometax preparation and electronic filing through April 15.
The VITA program is sponsoredby the IRS and a city-wide coalition of non-profit organizations and businessesled by the City of San Antonio, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, andCatholic Charities of San Antonio, Inc.
"The VITA Program offers acrucial economic resource for San Antonio's hard-working families," said MelodyWoosley, Interim Director of the Department of Human Services. "The Cityand our partners save our taxpayers millions in paid preparer fees whilehelping them take advantage of valuable tax credits."
VITA volunteerselectronically file basic federal income tax returns for families andindividuals. Volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS. Tax filers who receive a refund can check its delivery status by visiting theIRS website (www.irs.gov) and clicking on "Where's My Refund?" or by using the IRS2Gosmartphone app available for iPhone and Android. Filers can visit anyVITA site through April 15 on a walk-in basis.
"As a nonprofitorganization responsible for ensuring our donors' dollars are invested ineffective and efficient programs and services, our volunteers think that VITAis one of our most valuable investments of time and resources," said Toni-MarieVan Buren, senior vice president of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. "VITA facilitates the availability of free volunteer income taxassistance for low-income and underserved populations, and strengthens localfamilies' abilities to forgo tax preparation fees, pay bills, and save for thefuture," she added.
When visiting a VITA site forfree tax preparation, all filers must bring the following with them:
- Validphoto identification
- SocialSecurity Card(s) or Individual Tax Identification Number(s) for all familymembers
- AllW-2 Forms
- Copyof prior year tax return (if applicable)
- 1099Forms (if applicable)
- Iffiling jointly, spouse must be present to review/sign completed return
VITA sites experience peak customer volume throughoutFebruary and again in April near tax deadline. All filers should arriveearly and allow plenty of time when visiting a VITA site for tax preparation.
"As a community-wide partnership,VITA brings everyone together – volunteers, banks, financial institutions,corporate sponsors, nonprofit agencies – to provide valuable, cost-freeservices and help strengthen working families. VITA is a significantreturn on investment for everyone involved, especially the clients," saidCatholic Charities Interim President/CEO Barb Dampman.
Qualifying VITA filers who receivetax refunds also have the opportunity to earn extra dollars through the SaveUSAmatch-savings program. Eligible filers who open a SaveUSA accountwith all or part of their refund ($200 or more) for one year can earn a50-percent match on top of their savings up to $500. Additionally, U.S.savings bonds are available at all VITA sites.
For more information or to find anearby VITA site and its business hours, tax filers can go online to www.vitasa.org or call the United Way Helplineat 2-1-1.
Last year, VITA filed over 34,000 tax returns and recoveredan estimated $65 million in refunds and credits for San Antonio taxpayers whilesaving them an estimated $9 million in tax preparation fees. SanAntonio's VITA Program is nationally recognized as one of the top performingprograms across the country.
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