DENTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – Tax season is underway and the United Way of Denton has opened 11 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Centers to help low-income families file their taxes for free.
The organization’s Director of Financial Services Teddy Yan said unfortunately, some tax centers target this demographic with predatory fees and adds the VITA program is designed to protect tax payers.
“While at the same time, putting what is often times the single largest sum of money into that families pocket… that can help a family accomplish their goals for that entire year or at least retire debts that are holding them back,” he said.
Anyone who makes up to $58,000 a year is eligible for the services. Participant will need to bring a social security card, a photo i.d. for the tax payer and the spouse and any related tax documents.
Because the United Way of Denton is staffing several centers, Yan said they’re always in need of volunteers.
“These are dedicated people who learn tax law out of the goodness of their heart. So that they can help families who a…. don’t have time to learn the complexities of tax law and who b… don’t have the money to justify someone to do their taxes for them,” he said.
The organization said volunteers don’t have to be tax experts.
“You don’t have to an accounting background. The training we provide and the training that the IRS will provide is more than sufficient to get one up to speed for the stuff that is allowed VITA to prepare,” said Yan.
Last year, United Way of Denton County volunteers helped taxpayers collect $2.1 million in tax refunds while saving them an estimated $420,000 in unnecessary filing fees.
The Vita sites will be set up in Aubrey, Corinth, Denton, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Little Elm, Pilot Point and Sanger through April 15th.
Click here for more information.
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