Tax season has begun at the Pratt Community Center, and this year the volunteer tax preparers are expanding their service to five Saturday mornings at the Pratt Public Library. Appointments to receive free assistance may be made by calling the library at 672-3041. Saturday dates are Feb. 13 and 27, March 13 and 27 and April 10, from 9 a.m. to noon on all days.
No appointment is needed for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Pratt Community Center, 619 N. Main, from now through April 15.
Even though the deadline to file falls on a Thursday, preparers will be available that day, knowing there will be some people who will wait until the last minute, said Tiffany Brown, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program director, who is overseeing the VITA program.
Fred Badders and Dean Hoover participated in an annual training with the Internal Revenue Service to keep volunteers up to date on tax changes and new opportunities, such as credits for energy efficient home upgrades and appliance purchases. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the credits needs to bring receipts, Brown reminds.
They can prepare simple returns and applications for homestead and food sales tax returns. They cannot do tax returns for military families or those who are self-employed, Brown said. Help is available to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 or below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns.
Items to bring to the tax preparation session include:
• Proof of identification
• Social Security cards for you, you spouse and dependants
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependants
• Current year tax package, if you received one.
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit of refunds.
• Total paid for daycare provider and the provider’s tax identifying number.
To file tax electronically on a married-filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
The VITA program assisted 154 individuals or families last year, according to Brown.
Pratt, Kan. —
