VITA opens free tax prep service serving seven Upstate counties

Beginning this week, local taxpayers can begin having their taxes prepared for free as United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program opens its seventh year of offering free tax services in the community.

To help expand the service in 2012, United Way of Greenville County, United Way of Pickens County, United Way of Anderson County, United Way of Laurens County and United Way of the Piedmont have partnered to form the United Way VITA Collaborative. Joined by more than 30 partners, including faith-based, public and private organizations, the program’s volunteers will operate 13 sites in Greenville County which opened Jan. 17, and six sites in Pickens County opening Monday, Jan. 23. There will be six sites in Spartanburg County (also serving Cherokee and Union counties) opening on Jan. 30, four sites in Anderson County opening on Jan. 25 and two sites in Laurens County opening Jan. 31. (See the complete list of sites.)

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Bank of America, VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals and families with a household income of less than $50,000 a year. In addition to providing free tax preparation, VITA’s volunteers help taxpayers maximize their potential tax returns by ensuring all of the tax credits and deductions for which they qualify are claimed.

Appointments are now being scheduled for all sites via United Way’s 2-1-1 resource line. In addition to appointment scheduling, 2-1-1 call specialists inform taxpayers of the documentation required for tax preparation, as well as the latest site locations and hours of operation. Once an appointment is scheduled, taxpayers will be assisted at the site by one of the program’s IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers. All taxes are filed electronically, allowing returns in as little as seven days.

Since 2005, the program has helped more than 10,600 taxpayers in Greenville County keep more than $4.6 million in tax returns – a figure that benefits both the individual taxpayers and the local economy. Last year, the program’s 128 community volunteers helped file more than 4,500 returns.

“Many people in our community don’t have access to affordable tax preparation services or are unaware of programs like Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that could put thousands of dollars back in their hands and into our local economy,” said VITA Program Coordinator DJ Edwards. “VITA helps taxpayers obtain eligible tax credits and deductions, especially EITC, Child Tax Credit, Education Tax Credits and Child Care tax deductions. By offering this service for free in our community, our goal is to help more individuals and families maximize their returns, and achieve greater financial stability in the new year.”

VITA sites will remain open through April 18. For more information about the program, visit www.unitedwaygc.org/vita. To schedule an appointment, dial 2-1-1.