Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, January 21, 2005 6:00 pm
The beginning of tax season doesn't have to mean confusion and anxiety for taxpayers.
The Internal Revenue Service has combined with several local organizations to provide assistance with filling out tax forms and free electronic filing.
The goal of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is to help the low-income families and individuals of the Lincoln area to increase their income and build their assets, said IRS tax specialist Miriam Bede.
For example, she said, the volunteer will inform the taxpayer of all the credits he or she is eligible for.
The VITA program has provided free tax assistance to the Lincoln community for more than thirty years, Bede said.
Most sites will offer free electronic filing, which Bede said is faster, more accurate and more secure than traditional filing. When a taxpayer files a tax form electronically and has federal and state refunds deposited directly into a bank account, the refunds can be received within 10 to 14 days.
The sites will be open from Monday through April 15. The exact hours and dates of each site vary.
Volunteers are trained to prepare basic Form 1040 tax returns, including, schedules for itemized deductions, the earned income tax credit and other credits and the comparable state tax forms.
Some sites will have volunteers speaking Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, Indian, Russian and Bosnian available.
Taxpayers should bring photo identification; Social Security or individual taxpayer identification numbers for themselves, spouses and dependents; all W-2 forms; any interest and dividend statements (IRS Form 1099); a copy of last year's return, if available; and any other information concerning their income and expenses for 2004.
Information on the locations is available by phone from the Human Services Federation, (402) 441-4399 and Lincoln City Libraries, (402) 441-8530, and online at www.hsfed.org.