CARLISLE — The mayor of the Town of Carlisle is urging the public take advantage of a free federal tax preparation service being provided through the town in cooperation with USC Union.
Mayor Mary Ferguson-Glenn said the service will be offered Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Carlisle Town Hall and she said qualified Carlisle residents should take advantage of it to have their taxes done.
“It’s a great opportunity to have your taxes completed,” Ferguson-Glenn said Monday. “It’s a federal program called VITA and it is put on by way of USC Union. This is the third year the program will take place at the Carlisle Town Hall. We invite everyone to come out and seize this opportunity to have their taxes done at no cost as a public service.”
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a program of the Internal Revenue Service that provides IRS-certified volunteers who in turn provide qualified taxpayers in their communities with free basic income tax return preparation and electronic filing. The volunteers can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and credit for the elderly or disabled.
Ferguson-Glenn said volunteers from USC Union who have been certified by the IRS as tax preparers will be at the town hall to provide the services Thursday. She said the tax preparation services offered under the program are free to individuals and families earning less than $51,000 a year. While the service is free, it is by appointment only, and Ferguson-Glenn said those who want to have their taxes done should call the Carlisle Town Hall at 427-1505 to make an appointment.
USC Union is the VITA site for Union County and, in addition to the Carlisle Town Hall on Thursday, is offering free tax preparation services at the Founders House, 122 N. Church St., Union, beginning this Wednesday. Seven volunteers, all of whom are USC students or employees, will provide free tax preparation for qualified individuals or families by appointment only from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. each Wednesday through April 10.
Persons who make an appointment to have their taxes done at either the Carlisle Town Hall or Founders House should bring with them their W-2 forms and any and all other tax documentation as well identification such as a driver’s license.
Brittany Hanvey, administrative assistant with USC Union’s Continuing Education program, said Monday that a number of people have already made appointments to have their taxes done at Founders House.
“About 30 people have already made appointments to get their taxes done,” Hanvey said. “We are already booked for Wednesday, February 6, and Wednesday, February 13.”
For more information about the VITA program and/or to make an appointment to have your taxes done at Founders House call 429-8728, ext. 7742.
Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@heartlandpublications.com.
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