Moderate income individuals and families can have their income tax returns prepared for free beginning in February when UNC Asheville volunteers who are part of the IRS VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) program begin staffing tax-help sites at two locations downtown.
The free income-tax preparation will be available Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Pack Memorial Library on Haywood St. beginning Feb. 7, and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the YMI Cultural Center on South Market St. beginning Feb. 10. Tax preparation will not be offered on March 7 due to spring break, and the final session will be Thursday, April 9. Preparation of both federal and state returns is offered; those seeking preparation assistance should bring ID, W-2 forms and other relevant documents.
The IRS VITA program offers free income tax preparation for people with incomes of $53,000 or less, the elderly, and people with disabilities or limited proficiency in English. VITA volunteers are trained in tax laws and procedures, and confidentiality. “Everyone who works at a VITA site must pass the Volunteer Standards of Conduct exam, whether they are greeting taxpayers, preparing returns or packaging them,” says Monique Taylor, UNC Asheville’s director of internal audit, who once again is directing the university’s VITA program.
UNC Asheville’s VITA team has prepared thousands of federal and state income tax returns since Taylor initiated the effort four years ago, and the number of students participating has grown each year. Participation in the VITA program comes as part of an annual service-learning course taught by Joe Sulock, UNC Asheville professor of economics. To ensure accuracy, all tax returns are reviewed by specially trained student workers employed as assistant site managers.
Taxpayers with incomes of $60,000 or less also can prepare and file their returns themselves online at myfreetaxes.com.