For those who don't know the difference between WD-40 and a W-2 form, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program solves a lot of problems.
Better known as VITA, the Internal Revenue Service program is designed to help low- and moderate-income taxpayers complete their tax forms.
The security of knowing taxes will be hammered out after attending a VITA workshop makes the program attractive, said Rachael Pickett, the program's site coordinator in Bradley County. But she said the primary draw rings true in difficult economic times -- all services provided are free of charge.
Across the region, site coordinators have encountered hundreds of patrons as tax season heats up.
"I don't have to persuade people to come out," said Mrs. Pickett. "Lines of people are usually waiting outside before I come to work."
According to IRS tax consultant Joseph Kotsis, program volunteers get a comprehensive education on everything from recognizing tax credits to finishing returns.
Most of the volunteers are college students or retirees. No financial background is required to serve, but all volunteers are annually trained and certified by the IRS.
"My main reason to get involved was to be able to help people," said Regina Shaver, the McMinn County and Rhea County coordinator. "It's a wonderful service that allows people to get refunds promptly without paying an excessive fee."
The service is available to people who earn less than $50,000 or business whose profits are under $5,000. Full eligibility rules are listed at the IRS Web site.
Mr. Kotsis said several new incentives based on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are "beneficial to the taxpayer." New tax credits are available for college students, first-time home buyers and parents with children under age 17.
"People who don't think they have to file should file in order to get these credits because it's cash in their pocket," said Mr. Kotsis.
The last day to file taxes is April 15, but volunteers urged potential clients to get their taxes done as early as possible.
Most VITA sites can file electronically, but last-minute payers will have to rely on snail mail to beat the deadline, according to Mr. Kotsis.
Volunteer Roger Bryan offered advice to people who think they are avoiding bureaucratic tangles with the IRS by steering clear of the program.
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Staff Photo by Danielle Moore/Chattanooga Times Free Press From right, Rachael Pickett and Glenda Hill, with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, help Gerald Passmore and Mary Maurer complete their tax forms Saturday morning at Kmart in Cleveland, Tenn. The program, operated by the federal goverment, sets up a table at the Kmart at 200 Sgt. Paul Huff Parkway every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Don't be intimidated," said Mr. Bryan. "You've got to file taxes, so you might as well have them done free and right."
McMinn County resident Sherry Springer said she had some trouble during tax season before she tried VITA three years ago.
"I did (my taxes) myself one time and didn't know what they meant by a certain box, and they came back and got me," Ms. Springer said.
"That doesn't happen anymore," she laughed.
TENNESSEE
Bradley County
* Cleveland Community Center
1334 Church St. SE
Cleveland, TN 37311
4 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
No appointment required.
* K-mart at Bradley County Mall
200 Paul Huff Parkway
Cleveland, TN 37312
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
No appointment required.
* Lee University
1120 N. Ocoee St.
Walker Business Building
Cleveland, TN 37311
2 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday ; 10 a.m.-noon Saturday
No appointment required.
* North East Recreation Center
264 Berry St. NE
Cleveland, TN 37311
4 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-12 noon Saturday
No appointment required.
McMinn County
* Southeast Tennessee Career Center
410 Congress Parkway
Athens, TN 37303
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday
Call for appointment. 423-413-2339
Rhea County
* C.W. Roddy Library
371 First Ave.
Dayton, TN 37321
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday
No appointment required.
* Southeast Bank
22642 Rhea County Highway
Spring City, TN 37381
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday
No appointment required.
Sequatchie County
* Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency
312 Resource Road
Dunlap, TN 37327
Call for appointment. 423-949-2191, ext. 141
GEORGIA
Catoosa County
* Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church
1733 Battlefield Parkway
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday
No appointment required.
Dade County
* Dade County Library
102 Court St.
Trenton, GA 30752
1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, noon-4 p.m. Thursday
No appointment required.
Walker County
* Cherokee Regional Library
305 S. Duke St.
LaFayette, GA 30728
Call for appointment. 706-638-6319
* VFW Post 3679
540 Park City Road
Rossville, GA 30741
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday
No appointment required.
Whitfield County
* Dalton Regional Library
310 Cappes St.
Dalton, GA 30720
11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m. Saturday
No appointment required (Closed March 14-March 27)
WHAT TO BRING
* Proof of identification
* Social Security cards and birth dates for you, spouse and dependents
* Current year's tax package if you received one
* Wage and earning statements from all employers
* A copy of last year's federal and state returns, if available
* Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
* Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number
* To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the forms.
Source: IRS
Chris Carroll covers politics for the Times Free Press. A Chattanooga native, he graduated from Red Bank High School in 2005 and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University in 2009. Chris has investigated violent crime, hospitals, Red Bank politics and East Ridge politics since joining the newspaper in January 2010. For a jailhouse interview story with accused murderer Antonio Henry, he won a third place Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors ...
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