Area residents can have their taxes prepared and filed for free at the Vernon Public Library this month through the Scan and Go Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). On Thursday March 24 and Thursday March 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., anyone with 2015 income of $54,000 or less can meet with an IRS-certified tax volunteer and have their federal, state, and city (if applicable) tax returns prepared and filed for free.
The IRS VITA program offers free income tax assistance to eligible taxpayers. All VITA volunteers are trained in federal, state, and local tax law and certified by the IRS to prepare and file taxes. In addition to passing a tax law training, all VITA volunteers are required to pass a standards and conduct test administered by the IRS before they are allowed to meet with taxpayers. This ensures that taxpayers who have their taxes prepared through the VITA program will have their information protected while receiving a quality service.
To help local taxpayers in the area, the Vernon Public Library has partnered with the Michigan Economic Impact Coalition, a statewide group supporting free tax programs. The Scan and Go VITA is a “drop off” service. Taxpayers will meet with an IRS-certified volunteer who will have their tax
documents scanned into a secure system so that their taxes can be prepared. The taxpayer will return the following week to review their prepared return before it is filed. The initial intake or “drop-off” process will take about 30 minutes and the final review, or pick-up, of the tax return will take about 15 minutes.
Returns scanned on Thursday, March 24 may be picked up on either March 31 or April 7. Returns scanned on Thursday, March 31 must be picked up on April 7 (unless otherwise arranged). For more information regarding the program and items to bring with you for your appointment, ask a librarian or go to: michiganfreetaxhelp.org/scan-and-go.
