VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is the program that provides free income-tax preparation to low-and moderate-income taxpayers. The Community Forum for Economic Justice has supported VITA for many years, and a number of our members participate actively in the program.
The program this year is being sponsored by Goodwill. Goodwill has a long history of helping low- and moderate-income residents and everyone connected to the VITA program is excited about the partnership with Goodwill.
Because of the coronavirus, tax preparation will be done in a different way this year. Taxpayers will take their tax documents to several sites to have them scanned. At the sites everyone will be wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. Surfaces will be wiped down after use. The documents will be scanned to a secure site that is password-protected. The tax preparation will then be done by volunteers who connect to the documents and tax software virtually and communicate with taxpayers by phone.
Appointments for scanning will be every half-hour at the following sites:
Mondays through-Fridays 9:30-4:30
Goodwill, South Bend Career Center, 1805 W. Western Avenue, South Bend
Goodwill, Mishawaka Career Center, 3420 Grape Road, Mishawaka
Mondays, 10:30-4:30
Tutt Branch Public Library, 2223 Miami Street, South Bend
Tuesdays, 10:30-4:30
Bittersweet Branch Public Library, 602 N. Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka
Wednesdays, 10:30-4:30
Western Branch Library, 611 Lombardy Drive, South Bend
Thursdays, 12:30-4:30
LaSalle Branch Public Library, 3232 W. Ardmore Trail, South Bend
The IRS recommends that taxpayers electronically file (e-file) their tax returns. However, because of backlogs, the IRS has stated that it will not accept e-filed returns before Friday, February 12th. The VITA program will schedule appointments beginning Monday, February 15th. To schedule an appointment, call 574-800-1361 or you can schedule an appointment yourself at https://book.appointment-plus.com/ct6mkn7g
