Volunteers manning sites trained by IRS

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and PNC Bank are teaming up with a number of community partners to offer free income-tax assistance to qualified local residents throughout the filing season.

IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for Seniors programs provide tax-preparation assistance for low- to moderate-income individuals and families, as well as senior citizens, at local sites throughout the county.

Also, PNC said it is offering VITA-site clients faster refunds on a low-fee PNC Visa refund card usable at 30 million locations. Last year, approximately 1,000 cards were distributed by PNC, with an average refund of more than $950.

Other PNC services offered at VITA sites include financial-education programs and no-cost refund-check cashing at participating sites and certain PNC branches.

VITA offers free assistance to taxpayers, including but not limited to people with disabilities, students, and older taxpayers who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A, or a basic Form 1040 Federal tax return.

VITA volunteers also alert taxpayers to special credits and deductions for which they may be eligible. Taxpayers who visit a VITA site should bring wage and earnings statements (Form W-2) from all employers, interest statements from banks (Form 1099), a copy of last year’s tax return, if available, and other relevant information about income and expenses. Taxpayers with complex returns may need to see an accountant, officials said.

Working individuals and families also may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. IRS estimates that 20 percent of eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit, which could put as much as $5,372 into the pockets of a family with two children.

Some individuals and families may qualify for the credit for the first time because of unemployment or other changes in their financial, marital or parental status during the past year. VITA volunteers can help determine if taxpayers qualify for the EITC.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly is another IRS-sponsored, free income-tax service available to the community. Both VITA and TCE volunteers complete a rigorous IRS-training course in basic income-tax return preparation before they can assist taxpayers.

Last year, more than 3,000 individuals and families in Mahoning County took advantage of the free tax sites resulting in more than $3 million dollars in refunds and fee savings, United Way officials said.

For the past six years, United Way has offered support to the VITA program that has allowed for additional volunteers and sites throughout the county.