Local taxpayers can have their taxes prepared and filed for free as United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program opens its 11th year in the Upstate.
United Way of Pickens County, will offer the service at four volunteer-staffed locations across Pickens County.
VITA appointments can now be scheduled via United Way’s 2-1-1 resource line, or toll-free at 866-892-9211. The first available appointments will be Jan. 28. The VITA program will continue to run through the April 15 filing deadline.
For taxpayers who prefer to file their own returns, United Way has partnered nationally with H&R Block to offer MyFreeTaxes. The online self-prep tool allows taxpayers to prepare and file their own federal and state taxes for free online using Premium H&R Block Software. Online tax preparers can access the program at www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes.
Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals and families with a household income of less than $60,000 a year. VITA’s volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS to help taxpayers maximize their potential tax returns by ensuring all of the tax credits and deductions for which they qualify are claimed.
