COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - Community Action, serving Branch County, along with Calhoun, Barry, and St. Joseph Counties, is once again offering free income tax preparation through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. This FREE service provides tax assistance to low to moderate income individuals and families with a household income of $50,000 or less.
Last year, VITA programs directly served more than one million underserved taxpayers, including low-wage workers, persons with disabilities, the elderly, rural populations, and those with limited English language skills. For families living on tight budgets, it is now more important than ever to have access to free tax services and the opportunity to take advantage of any tax benefits they may qualify for, while avoiding high fees charged by paid preparers and refund anticipation loans.
VITA Tax preparers are community volunteers who are trained with IRS-provided materials and certified by the IRS standards, ensuring their competency in tax preparation. Volunteers help with special credits such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.
In addition to free return preparation assistance, sites also offer free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper and even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into one’s bank account. The Branch County VITA site is located at Community Action’s Housing and Support Services offices at 285 N. Michigan Ave in Coldwater.
For more information about Community Action and the additional services they provide such as Weatherization, Major/Minor home repair, Early Childhood Education, Senior Transportation, Meals on Wheels, and Home Heating Assistance, please call the Community Action office at 1-877-422-2726 or visit the organization’s website at www.CAASCM.org.
