Northwest Iowa — ‘Tis the season. Tax papers continue to trickle in via the mail. W-2s from employers, 1099s for other income, 1098-Ts for college students, 1095-Bs for proof of health insurance, and many more. That means the time is once again drawing near to get going on your taxes.
If you meet certain requirements, you might qualify for free tax prep and perhaps a refund just for earning your income or having dependents.
The Iowa Department of Human Services — or “DHS” — is reminding Iowans with low to moderate income, Iowans who are elderly, and Iowans with disabilities that they can get free tax preparation services at sites throughout the state.
Funding for this initiative comes from a three-year grant through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program.
DHS contracts with the Iowa Center for Economic Success to promote and deliver the tax preparation services through coalition partners across the state. You can find locations and times for tax preparation assistance at: http://theiowacenter.org/taxes/ or at http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/. One of the sites is at Northwest Iowa Community College, starting on February 1st.
Also, if you worked last year and had an income of less than $54,884, DHS says you should check your eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit — or “EITC.”
Jana Rhoads, Division Administrator of DHS’s Adult, Children and Family Services which administers Iowa’s VITA Grant Program says that they want to get the word out to those who are eligible to file a tax return, even if they don’t owe any tax, they can claim the EITC. She says that it’s money that Iowa workers can use for groceries, rent, utilities, and other bills.
The DHS says that EITC eligibility can be complex and varies by income, family size, and filing status. But by visiting a VITA site, Iowans can access IRS-trained and certified volunteers who can help them determine if they qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit or education credits. Volunteers at these sites also prepare and e-file (electronically file) tax returns at no cost. They tell us that more than 770 volunteers prepared nearly 20,000 returns during last year’s filing season.
