Tax time just got a little less stressful. Thanks to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, qualifying low-to-moderate income households in Johnson County can receive free tax preparation assistance from trained volunteers from the Johnson County Social Services Department. VITA services are available through April 13.

This year the VITA Program will offer two options for tax preparation assistance. Taxpayers who earned less than $64,000 in 2023 can have their returns completed and filed by an IRS-certified tax preparer at no cost. Appointments are required and can be made at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita. Taxpayers also have the option to prepare their returns. Households who earned less than $79,000 in 2023 can file taxes for FREE. Email, [email protected] for information on how to access and file your taxes at no cost. For those completing their returns, tax assistance and dedicated computer stations are available from February 10 to April 13, 2024, at the Iowa City Public Library on Mondays from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that 20 percent of American workers do not claim the refundable tax credits for which they are eligible, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a special benefit for working people with an annual household income of less than $64,000. Workers who qualify for the EITC and file a federal tax return may be eligible for a portion or all of the federal income tax taken out of their pay during the year. They may also receive additional cash back from the IRS. Even workers whose earnings were too small to owe income tax may be eligible for the EITC.

Trained volunteer tax preparers help ensure that eligible taxpayers receive the EITC and any other qualifying tax credits.

Electronic filing is provided so that taxpayers can receive their tax refunds quickly. Taxpayers using VITA volunteers, or the free file software, to help file taxes do not pay to have returns prepared and do not pay to get refunds.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita. Translation services can be made in advance by calling Johnson County Social Services at 319-356-6090.

VITA is a partnership among Johnson County Social Services, the Iowa City Public Library, and the Iowa Center for Economic Success.