VITA Offers Free Income Tax Help

Free income tax assistance is available for those who earned $51,000 or less in 2012 through the United Way of Palm Beach County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Low- and moderate-income-eligible taxpayers must be at income levels at or below the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) guidelines. For example, if your annual household income is $51,000 or less you automatically qualify. In addition, if you earned less than $45,060 in 2012, you may be eligible for up to $5,891 in earned income tax credits.

There are 13 designated VITA sites in Palm Beach County. For the location nearest you, please visit the VITA website. Some sites operate by appointment only. All locations will e-file your return for you.

Remember -- the people helping prepare tax returns are volunteers and are not being paid, so please be patient. Be sure to bring the following items to the VITA site to make it easier to prepare your return:

1. Last year’s Federal Income Tax Return (2011 income tax return)
2. Social Security cards for you, your spouse (if married), and all dependents
3. Correct birth dates for all names that appear on the return
4. All W-2’s for 2012, including spouses
5. Form 1098 – mortgage interest, property taxes
6. Form 1099- DIV, G, INT, MISC, Q, R, RRB, SSA for 2012
7. A voided check and savings account number for direct deposit of your refund (This is optional, but it gets your cash to you faster.)
8. A legal photo ID card (driver license, etc.), including spouse’s, if married and filing joint returns
9. For the Dependent Care Credit, bring care provider’s name, address, SSN/EIN, and amount you paid
10. For education credits, bring 1098T or 1098E and amount paid for qualified expenses

Note: If married and filing a joint return, both spouses must come to the VITA office. VITA volunteers will not prepare returns involving Schedule D (Complex), Schedule E, employee business expenses, moving expenses, nondeductible IRA, or minor’s investment income.

Some VITA sites may be open on tax deadline day, April 15. Announcement of such will be made in early April.