Financial Education Initiative Hosts Free Tax Preparation

January 8, 2018October 11, 2018
in Daily Operations

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Through the Mayor’s Financial Education Initiative, residents can receive help with tax preparation.

  • Our sites are IRS approved VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly), and FSA (Facilitated Self-Assistance) programs.
  • All sites provide fast electronic tax filing. Community volunteers receive IRS-approved training to assist individuals with tax returns.
  • If you do not have a checking or savings account, Bank On Hattiesburg partners can open a low or no cost account. Tax returns with bank accounts receive their refunds faster, usually within 7 to 10 days – returns without an account receive their refunds in 6 to 8 weeks.

The program is available through the following dates and times:

AARP TAX-AIDE Sites

Sigler Center             

315 Conti St. – Hattiesburg

February 5th – April 10th 

Monday & Tuesday

8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

 

Petal Senior-Veterans Center

425 E. Central Ave. – Petal

February 8th – April 14th

Thursday & Saturday

12 Noon – 3:30 PM

Saturday – 9 AM – 12 Noon

(selected Saturdays – call 601-554-1005 for dates)

 

PRVO VITA Site

100 West Front St. – Hattiesburg

January 29th – April 13th 

Monday – Friday

8 AM – 5 PM

(Appointments only – call 601-545-8110)

 

CHRISTIAN SERVICES-FSA Site

The Redemption Center

113 Evans St. – Hattiesburg

February 1st – April 13th

Wednesday & Friday

10 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 4 PM (only)

(For info/directions, call 601-582-5683) 

*Preparers do not give refund estimates!

 

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Valid Picture I.D.
  • Social Security cards
  • A copy of 2017 tax return is helpful
  • Copies of ALL income
  • Form 8832 non-custodial parents claiming child
  • Child/Dependent Care provider’s tax number
  • Student loan/college tuition expenses
  • Bank account number and routing info or voided check
  • IRS Identity Protection PIN

 

HEALTH INSURANCE DOCUMENTS:

  • Proof of coverage for you, your spouse, and all dependents
  • If you do not have full year coverage, bring monthly coverage information
  • If you purchased through the Marketplace/Exchange, bring Form 1095-A
  • If you received health care exemptions from IRS or the Marketplace, bring document

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

[embeddoc url=”https://www.hattiesburgms.com/wp-content/uploads/TaxAssistance.pdf” width=”300px”]

[embeddoc url=”https://www.hattiesburgms.com/wp-content/uploads/2018-Earned-Income-.pdf” width=”300px”]

 

* Taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (CTC) will experience a refund hold. According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue these refunds before mid-February. The IRS expects the earliest EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or debit cards starting Feb. 27, 2018, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return.