Press Release – The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service will be available again this year with sites in Brownwood, Coleman, Brady, Comanche and Cisco. VITA is a free, IRS-sponsored program to help low and middle-income workers and retirees have their income taxes prepared and filed electronically by an IRS certified volunteer. VITA also ensures that workers receive all the tax credits to which they are entitled.

This year the Earned Income Tax Credit is available for families earning less than $53,505. Depending on income and family size, you could get up to $6,269! If you don’t have a qualifying child and earned under $20,330, you may qualify for up to $503. Almost a quarter of the people who are eligible to receive this money do not claim it. You must file a tax return to get the credit even if you wouldn’t need to otherwise. If you qualify for any tax credit, the IRS has announced that no refunds will be sent before February 15 at the earliest.

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“Our goal is to not only offer free tax assistance, but to teach financial literacy so people will have the resources to manage their money” stated Hanna Adams, Executive Director of Central Texas Opportunities, Inc. While this is the ninth year that CTO has sponsored the local VITA program in collaboration with Texas State Technical College and the IRS, there has been a VITA program in Brownwood for 34 years. This year they have joined with other regional agencies to form the Coalition for Financial Empowerment. The Coalition encompasses 27 counties in west central and west Texas.

The Brownwood VITA site will be at Texas State Technical College, 305 Booker Street in Building 1, Room 122. They will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. beginning Wednesday, February 8. Tom Allen, with eleven years VITA experience and IRS Advanced Level Certification, will be the Site Coordinator. For more information or details on the Brady, Coleman, Comanche and Cisco sites, please call 325-625-4167 or visit www.ctoinc.org or like us on Facebook.

What to Bring to Your VITA Tax Appointment

• A valid driver’s license or other photo ID card
• A copy of last year’s tax return
• All income statements: Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements such as pensions, stocks, interest and any documents showing taxes withheld.
• All records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest or real estate taxes.
• Dependent child care information: name and address of who you paid and either caretaker’s SSN or other tax identification number
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund (e.g. voided check)
• Social Security cards and/or ITIN notices/ cards for you, your spouse and dependents
• Birth dates for all persons listed on return
• Both spouses to sign forms to e-file joint return