Tax season is here and like a Facebook relationship, “it’s complicated.” Here’s how you can get answers to your questions and free tax help from Goodwill.
Qualified individuals can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help them file their tax returns. Under this volunteer-run service, IRS-certified tax preparers will file returns for individuals or families with an adjusted gross income of $52,000 or less. For the fifth year in a row, Goodwill will operate a VITA site at its Career Development Center (2122 Freedom Drive, Charlotte) beginning Wednesday, January 29 through Tuesday, April 15. The site is open by appointment only each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:00-9:00 p.m., and each Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. for walk-ins. Review our checklist to make sure you bring the appropriate documents with you.
Goodwill encourages taxpayers to ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides tax breaks for some working families who earn up to $52,000 and can provide refunds up to $6,044. The IRS estimates that nearly 20 percent of eligible workers do not claim the EITC each year because they lack awareness of the program, cannot afford costly tax preparation fees or fear they will lose public benefits by filing.
To educate local taxpayers about the Earned Income Tax Credit, Goodwill will host a free EITC Awareness Day on Saturday, February 1 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at its Career Development Center. Pre-registration is not required for this event.
To schedule an appointment for Goodwill’s VITA site, or to see if you qualify for free tax preparation, call (704) 761-VITA (8482) from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday or schedule an appointment online. Click here for more information on local VITA sites.
The 2014 tax deadline is April 15. Don’t pay someone to do your taxes if you qualify for this free service. Help us by spreading the word about our tax assistance program with your friends and family, neighbors and co-workers.
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