FREE TAX SERVICE

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The VITA program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income taxpayers. The income threshold this filing season is $50,000.

IRS-certified volunteers help eligible taxpayers prepare basic tax returns at sites across the country. You’ll generally find a VITA site at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other public locations.

Most VITA sites also offer free electronic filing. In fact, this year the IRS Free File program has expanded its partnership with VITA, setting up self-serve free e-filing kiosks at around 500 of the sites. If you have trouble using the kiosk, a VITA volunteer will be there to help.

You can find a nearby VITA site via the program’s online directory of by calling 1-800-906-9887.

Get A Financial Boost This Tax Season

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a financial boost for people working hard to make ends meet. Millions of workers may qualify for the first time this year due to changes in their marital, parental or financial status.

The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit targeted to low to moderate income working individuals and families. Refundable means that even if the credit exceeds the tax liability, the taxpayer doesn’t lose the excess and is entitled to receive any overage as a refund.

For tax year 2011, the maximum credit amounts are:

• $464 with no qualifying children
• $3,094 with one qualifying child
• $5,112 with two qualifying children
• $5,751 with three or more qualifying children