Two free income tax preparation programs will serve York County taxpayers this filing season. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program serves individuals and families with a household income of $51,000 or less in 2012. The AARP Tax-Aid Program gives preference to taxpayers age 60 and older. Both programs help taxpayers file their federal, state and local tax returns, and all tax volunteers have passed an IRS certification examination.
Additional qualifications for free VITA Program tax preparation include:
- No military income
- No ownership of rental property
- No self-employment with more than $10,000 in annual expenses
- No clergy
According to Rob Morgan, VITA program coordinator, community support for the VITA Program has been exceptional, much needed and well-appreciated.
Local schools and businesses supporting the program include:
- AARP Foundation Tax-Aid
- Community Progress Council, Inc.
- DENTSPLY International
- Dover Area School District
- Glatfelter
- Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania
- Penn State York
- Red Lion Area School District
- Southern Community Services
- United Way of York County
- White Rose Credit Union
- York Benevolent Association
- York College of Pennsylvania
- York Educational Federal Credit Union
There are 10 VITA sites in York County that offer daytime, evening or Saturday hours. Eligible taxpayers can call LSS in York County at 717.854.2244 or 888.629.4095 (toll-free) beginning Tuesday, January 22 to schedule an appointment. For those that reside outside York County, a nearby VITA preparation site can be located by visiting www.irs.gov or calling 800.906.0998.
The Dover VITA site also will have a facilitated self-assisted tax preparation option which will operate Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This program offers taxpayers the opportunity to complete their own taxes with the assistance of an IRS certified VITA volunteer if needed. The income limit for the self-assisted site will be $57,000 for the 2012 tax season.
Many taxpayers served by these free programs would incur substantial fees at paid preparers due to the nature of their tax returns. These programs allow the filers to save those dollars and use them to pay for food, housing and medical expenses.
The York County VITA Program is managed by Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the York $ in Your Pocket Coalition.
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Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania (LSS) began serving the community in 1951 by providing outreach services to families and seniors in York County. Today, its services have grown and expanded to include six senior living communities, home health care, hospice care, in-home support and a broad spectrum of community outreach services. The LSS service area extends from northern Maryland through the Capital Region of south central PA into the Lehigh Valley in northeastern PA.
York County VITA Program Sites
717.854.2244 or 888.629.4095 (toll-free)
York: Community Progress Council
United Way of York County
White Rose Credit Union
York Benevolent Association
Dover: Dover Area High School
Hanover: New Hope Ministries/Red Cross
Red Lion: Red Lion Area High School
White Rose Credit Union
Shrewsbury: Southern Community Services
AARP Tax-Aide Program Locations and Phone Numbers
York: York County Area Agency on Aging 771.9042
Messiah United Methodist Church 771.9042
York Alliance Church 771.9042
Aldersgate United Methodist Church 771.9042
Yorktown Senior Center 854.0693
White Rose Senior Center 843.9704
Delta: Delta Senior Center 456.5753
Dover: Dover Heritage Senior Center 292.7471
Hanover: Hanover YWCA Annex 637.2125
Mt. Wolf: Mt. Wolf Northeastern Area Senior Center 266.1400
Red Lion: Red Lion Senior Center 244.7229
Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury Grace United Methodist Church 771.9042
Spring Grove: Spring Grove Windy Hill Senior Center 225.0733
Wrightsville: Wrightsville Eastern Area Senior Center 252.1641