Tax season is here. W-2s are arriving, and millions of Americans are setting aside time to file with their tax advisor or favorite filing software. For many, taxes are a stressful time, and filing can often cost a pretty penny. Northwest Indiana Community Action’s (NWICA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides many in Northwest Indiana a free alternative that helps build assets in the community by keeping money in your wallet.
“VITA is a grant given to us from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to train volunteers to become IRS-certified to prepare tax returns for low-to-moderate income clients,” said NWICA Financial Service Manager Yvette Johnson. “This program focuses on households making up to $65,000 a year.”
VITA offers an excellent opportunity for clients to take the money they’d normally spend on tax filing and invest it towards other necessities, such as rent, groceries, and other essential purchases. Those hoping to make use of VITA will find that it’s never been easier to match their filing method to their lifestyle.
“We can offer tax assistance in three different ways with an appointment,” said Johnson. “First, we have drop-off services where clients can meet with a member of our team to drop off their materials and then come back the following week to pick up their documents. That's when we'll go over their tax return with them and electronically file it. We also have a service where clients can meet face-to-face with a tax preparer and have their tax return prepared during the appointment. Lastly, we have virtual services where they upload their documents to a secure portal through the IRS, and we can prepare their returns that way.”
Scheduling an appointment with NWICA is easy and painless. Simply follow the instructions on NWICA’s website to book your tax appointment. Alternatively, call 1-800-826-7871, select option four, and follow along with the prompts to get scheduled.
In addition to scheduled appointments, NWICA is hosting Super Saturday events at Calumet College of St. Joseph to help Region residents get their taxes filed.
“On Super Saturdays, we prepare taxes for the first 25 individuals to arrive,” said Johnson. “They'll be able to sit down with a volunteer tax preparer, prepare their taxes, and transmit them that day.”
This year’s Super Saturdays will be held on March 23 and April 6 beginning at 9 a.m. Be sure to arrive early to get seated with a volunteer.
Whether it’s by appointment or through a Super Saturday event, taking advantage of the free services offered by VITA helps clients today and in the future.
“This program actually gives clients—who have been paying to get their tax returns prepared money in their pockets that they can use,” said Johnson. “Maybe they need to buy a car, maybe they need to put up a down payment on a home, or maybe they want to build savings—they're able to keep all of their refund thanks to VITA.”
The financial help through NWICA doesn’t end with tax preparation. Those interested in learning more about resources in the Region should attend NWICA’s Financial Wellness Fair at the Hammond Development Center on February 24. Attendees will be able to connect with other programs in Northwest Indiana focused on uplifting our communities, such as United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up program.
To learn more about Northwest Indiana Community Action and its services, visit www.nwi-ca.com.