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Free tax preparation assistance for low-income working individuals
and families Are you puzzled by tax law and need assistance with preparing your income tax return? If so, the City’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program wants to file your tax return free and help you claim your fair share of the tax credits. The City’s Department of Community Initiatives (DCI) and its partners in the San Antonio Coalition for Economic Progress (SACFEP) have opened 26 VITA sites. Volunteers at these sites will prepare and file income tax returns free of charge for individuals and working families with household incomes up to $40,000. All returns are filed electronically so taxpayers can receive their refunds within seven to 10 days. Volunteers will also help taxpayers seeking assistance take full advantage of the tax credits for which they are eligible including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as well as other tax credits. “There are many taxpayers in our community who need assistance with completing their tax returns each year but cannot afford professional services,” said Dennis Campa, Director of DCI. “That is why VITA is so crucial because we provide tax preparation free of charge and link taxpayers to tax credits and community resources for which they may be eligible.” The VITA sites will operate through April 16 and will maintain day and evening hours, plus weekends at most locations. When visiting a VITA site, taxpayers should bring the following items:
This tax season, the EITC will provide a maximum tax credit of up to $4,500 for low to moderate income workers and a CTC up to $1,000 for those that qualify. The actual amount of the credit will depend upon each individual’s circumstance. “VITA has a significant impact on our community in terms of boosting the economy and improving lives because it puts much needed money back into the pockets of our working families and individuals,” said Campa. VITA will also connect clients to other services and public benefits for which they may qualify including food stamps, child-care assistance, children’s health insurance and Individual Development Account savings programs. In addition to EITC and CTC, the IRS is offering a one-time refund to all telephone customers who paid excise tax on long-distance service after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006. Refunds will range from $30 to $60. VITA volunteers can assist participants with this process. Last year, an estimated 170,000 San Antonio taxpayers claimed the EITC. Of those, more than 56,000 used a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) to receive their tax refund more quickly. Unfortunately, most RALs charge interest rates as high as 250 percent or more. Last year, taxpayers paid more than $11 million in RAL interest and processing fees. This year, the SACFEP will partner with the City Employees Federal Credit Union to offer a zero interest Refund Express loan to those taxpayers wanting to obtain their refund in two business days. Individuals who opt for the Refund Express will pay only a $10 application fee and zero interest fees. The Refund Express will be available at most VITA sites. The San Antonio Coalition for Family Economic Progress includes the City of San Antonio; United Way of San Antonio-Bexar County; Internal Revenue Service; Our Lady of the Lake University’s Center for Women; Making Connections, a local initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation; Catholic Charities and other community and faith-based organizations. If you have questions about VITA or wish to locate a site, call the United Way helpline at 227-4357 or 2-1-1. For more information on other services provided by DCI, call 207-8198 or visit www.sanantonio.gov/comminit. Return to dot-gov homepage |
