(Atlantic) Cass County Extension is hosting the Vita tax program, which offers free basic tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers for the 2024 tax year.
The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers qualified individuals free basic tax return preparation.
The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their tax returns, including People who generally make $67,000 or less, the Elderly, Persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers
The Cass County ISU Extension Office in Atlantic is now taking appointments for FREE preparation through the VITA Program. Appointments in February and March will be at the Extension Office on the Fairgrounds in Atlantic.
While the IRS manages the VITA program, VITA sites are operated by IRS partners and staffed by IRS-certified volunteers who want to make a difference in their communities. VITA services are not only free, they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site before filing. Locally, volunteers are trained and supported by the Iowa Center for Economic Success. Find more information about documents needed for tax preparation at https://theiowacenter.org/taxservices/
In addition to benefiting eligible taxpayers, the VITA program also benefits local communities by helping low-income taxpayers access notable tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. In Iowa, the average Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refund is $2,311; almost 20% of eligible Iowans do not access this credit. When taxpayers claim this credit, local economies get double the benefit, as every EITC dollar claimed results in up to $2 in local economic activity!
Please call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 to schedule your appointment. We have limited dates available in February and early March of 2025, and appointments will be offered on a first-come basis. For more information on the VITA program in Cass County or other local Extension programs, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.
(Photo: L-R- Meg Schmidt, Dave Schmidt, Rob Faux, Jill Beebout, Jack Boyer, and Dick Sloan (Tammy Faux not pictured).
