Financial Stability Partnership offers a variety of free tax preparation methods

Published 10:21 am Wednesday, February 16, 2011

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Individuals wanting an easier method of filing their income tax returns have several free options.

The Financial $tability PartnershipTM of the River Cities, a United Way initiative, is hosting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Residents of the River Cities are encouraged to attend free tax preparation sessions until April 16.

Those who have a total household income of $50,000 or less could be eligible for free tax preparation.

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Five sites are available in Cabell County. One site each is in Wayne, Lincoln and Mason counties. Two are available in Lawrence County.

Site times and appointment instructions vary by location. For a full listing of site dates, times and locations log onto www.unitedwayrivercities.org or call 304-781-1033.

“VITA sites are incredibly important because not only do they allow people to receive free tax preparation assistance, they also allow people to determine if they are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Laura Gilliam, United Way executive director. “Residents of the River Cities could put more money in their pockets, which is instrumental in their everyday lives. For example, they could use the money to place a down payment on a home or save for post-secondary education.”

Each volunteer tax preparer is IRS trained and certified.

Those seeking free tax preparation services must bring the following items to the VITA site: a picture ID, a Social Security card for themselves, spouses and all dependants; and all W2’s, 1099 forms and any other received tax information.

In addition to the free-tax preparation sites and schedules mentioned above, FSPTM ‘s VITA is teaming up with others to make more opportunities available for residents to receive assistance, which include Super Tax Site Saturday and the Financial Fitness Fair.

Super Saturday

The VITA Super Tax Site Saturday event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23 on the third floor of the Cabell County Public Library. In addition to VITA’s free tax preparation services, Consumer Credit Counseling Services will be offering budgeting services, free credit reports and credit report reviews.

Financial Fitness Fair

FSPTM and VITA are also partnering with the Huntington, WV Housing Authority, ROSS Homeownership Counseling Program and BB&T Bank to host the first annual Financial Fitness Fair. The fair will be Feb. 23 at the Johnston Centre in downtown Huntington.

The BB&T Bank Bus will be on location to offer the following services: free tax preparation, free credit report and review, budgeting, banking basics, unclaimed property searches and basic career services. Participants will be entered into hourly door prize drawings. Free pizza will also be provided.

For more information about the Financial Fitness Fair, contact Sheila Walker at 304-526-4400 or swalker@HWVHA.org.

For more information about Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations and times, call 304-781-1033. For more information about the Financial $tability PartnershipTM of the River Cities, contact Ed Davis at 304-523-8929, ext. 6 or ed.davis@unitedwayrivercities.org.