Free income tax assistance May 7 for flood victims who missed filing date

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - The recent floods throughout our region affected many households in many, sometimes devastating, ways. One local nonprofit organization is helping relieve some of the burden by offering free tax assistance to taxpayers who missed the April 18 tax filing deadline due to the floods.

“So many people were affected by flooding, and, unfortunately, the last thing on their minds was tax day,” said Rita Wiltz, executive director of Children’s Books on Wheels, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing educational and community resources. “The IRS extended the filing deadline for taxpayers in affected ZIP codes, and what we’re providing is a second round of VITA help to those in need.”

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, provides free expert tax assistance from IRS-certified volunteers. CBOW is hosting a VITA clinic on Saturday, May 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Conroe Central Library, located at 104 Interstate 45 North in Conroe. “Many families lost all their belongings, along with documents needed for filing taxes,” said Wiltz. “Our trained volunteers will be there to help them sort through this confusing time and provide some much-needed clarity and relief.”

In addition to the VITA clinics, CBOW also provides assistance every fourth Saturday of the month to help families file for social services and speak with healthcare marketplace navigators. CBOW offers a myriad of resources as part of its commitment to serving the local community.

Appointments for Saturday’s clinic can be made by calling 281-844-7596. More information, including a list of documentation to bring, can be found at www.childrensbooksonwheels.org