Volunteer tax assistance program helps people from overtaxing burden

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The season is upon us—tax season that is, and it’s a time of year that can feel less than jolly for individuals and households gearing up to file their taxes.

“You can feel the stress levels rising. And this year, questions regarding the requirement to report health insurance as part of the Affordable Health Care Act just add to the worry and confusion,” said Rita Wiltz, executive director of Children’s Books on Wheels, a non-profit organization devoted to building education, health and financial literacy.

“The records, forms and schedules required to complete a return can be overwhelming, and yet, for low-to-moderate income households, there may seem to be nowhere to turn for answers. We want people to know that a helping hand is available, right now, in their own neighborhoods, through our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.”

Solutions for Communities: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, provides free, expert tax assistance from IRS-certified advisors who are ready and waiting at multiple locations throughout the communities of north, south, east and west Montgomery County, said Wiltz.

“We have a first-rate team of IRS-trained volunteers, many of them retired CPAs, bankers, and tech or energy sector executives. They can help individuals and families get the full refund and tax credits they’re entitled to. Healthcare marketplace navigators will also be on site. All these services are available in Spanish as well as English.”

Wiltz said those who qualify for the service include individual households which earned up to $54,000 in 2015, those with disabilities and the elderly.

Upcoming sites include the South Montgomery County Family YMCA at Shadow Bend in The Woodlands on February 20th, from 11 am to 3 pm, the Conroe ISD Walter P. Jett Continuing Education Center on February 24th, from 5 pm to 8 pm, and The City Cathedral CRM Fellowship Church – The Woodlands on February 27th, from 10 am to 3 pm. Wiltz said more information, along with a list of documentation to bring along, is available on the CBOW website at www.childrensbooksonwheels.org, by calling (281) 844-7596, or by sending an email to rw2619@msn.com.

Wiltz said that VITA will provide tax help all the way through the IRS filing deadline of April 18 and beyond.

“We’re going to be there for people, helping them to file amendments and extensions, all the way though the filing deadline for tax extension filers, which is October 17.”