MILWAUKEE – Many individuals only require tax preparation for Homestead, and several individuals are ahead of the game and have information for tax filing ready to be prepared. SDC is dedicating special dates for these households. Now through Friday, January 19, these filers can take advantage of this service through the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) operation of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. SDC is the lead agency and largest preparer of taxes for the county’s VITA program.
Two SDC locations in Milwaukee offer these specific services – 1730 W. North Avenue and 6848 N. Teutonia Avenue through Friday. Hours of operation are Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Low and middle-income households with an annual income of $58,000 or less in 2017 are eligible to receive these services at no charge. Qualifying households can receive their returns using direct deposit. The name of their bank, routing and account numbers will expedite returns instead of waiting for return checks by mail.
High profile tax preparation agencies lure low and middle-income individuals and families with the offer of 0% interest loans. Customers later discover that there are high processing fees associated with the loans as well as preparation of their returns. By using the free VITA tax preparation and filing program, filers can save money by avoiding these “special offers.”
VITA also provides service for those claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) indicates refunds for filers with these credits will not be available until mid-February. The anticipated start date for issuing refunds for those using direct deposit is February 27.
VITA will begin full service for all eligible households beginning Monday, January 22 and continue through Tuesday, April 17 at the three sites operated by SDC. All sites are closed Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31. Only walk-in service will be available for Homestead filers with a maximum of ten per day per location.
Information on what to bring is located on SDC’s website at cr-sdc.org/SDC/Programs/Support-Services/VITA Volunteer Tax Assistance.
Funding and donations are still needed to operate this vital service that helps low and middle-income residents. To support this program, through financial or in-kind contributions, please call 414.906.2823 or email ljones@sd-foundation.org.
The 2018 VITA program is made possible through the generous support of the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, the City of Milwaukee, the IRS, Wells Fargo, Northwestern Mutual, Guaranty Bank, Landmark Credit Union, the Social Development Foundation, the Milwaukee Asset Building Corporation and the Social Development Commission.
This is the 17th season that the SDC has operated the VITA program. In the first 16 years of the program, there have been over 187,500 returns filed, and more than $193.5 million in tax refunds and credits back to residents and the local economy.
