What is VITA? | How does VITA Work | What to Bring | Volunteer | Credits | VITA Locations

What is VITA?

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service, the START Center, the City of San Benito, the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District and various other local agencies. There are locations throughout Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley that can assist low to moderate-income families with their tax returns. See the chart on this website.

Volunteers from the community help prepare basic, current year tax returns for eligible taxpayers free of charge. You MUST have an appointment to have your taxes prepared so please call or come in to schedule a time. Be sure that you have all of your personal information with you at the time of your appointment.

The VITA site in San Benito will open January 15 th and operate through April 15 th .

What is Direct Deposit? The IRS can deposit your tax refund directly into your bank account instead of mailing you a paper refund check.  It is possible to receive your refund within 7 to 10 days.    

How can I check my refund Status? For further information you can contact the IRS @ http://www.irs.gov/ or call 1.800.829.1040

What Information Will I need to Bring?

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM, TAXPAYERS MUST Schedule an APPOINTMENT with the VITA Program and BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

All items must be present to file your taxes.    

• Driver's License or Photo Identification Card

• All W-2 Forms

• 1099 Forms (if you have any)

• 1099-G form if you received unemployment. Insurance benefits at any time in 2005

• 1099-INT if received bank interest in 2005

• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for ALL persons in your family

• If filing jointly, your spouse must come with you.

BE A VITA
VOLUNTEER IN
YOUR COMMUNITY!

HELP US ASSIST LOW INCOME FAMILIES!

The South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center needs your help!

By helping low-income families claim every tax benefit available to them, the START Center can boost the incomes of working poor families up to 35%!

•  NO PRIOR TAX EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED, FREE TAX TRAINING PROVIDED!

•  SIGN UP TODAY AND GAIN THE IMMEDIATE SATISFACTION OF GIVING BACK TO OTHERS!

If you would like to help put money back into the pockets of low-income families in Cameron County and South Texas, please contact the Center today!

Call 399-7818 to Volunteer

Volunteer: The EITC Campaign is seeking volunteer tax preparers. Employers can encourage their employees to become VITA volunteers. The IRS will provide training for volunteers and the START Center will be certified as an official IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, eliminating all liability for volunteers. No accounting or prior tax experience is necessary. A trained tax preparer will be on site at all times to answer questions. (Please send this email message to your employees to conduct a volunteer recruitment campaign in your organization.

Inform: Give your employees a year-end bonus, without any cost to you! Promote the EITC through paycheck enclosures, email, meetings, posters in the cafeteria, and or flyers. You can also inform eligible employees of the opportunity to receive a part of their EITC in advance in their paychecks-- now a simple part of the regular payroll system.

Print: Help the START Center with a donation to print the multitude of marketing materials needed to educate tax payers and employers on the EITC and tax preparation services.

Donate: Contributions are needed to cover marketing, staffing, and other costs related to the EITC program.

Call us at the START Center at 956-399-7818 to get staff assistance to pursue any of the above options. Give your name, telephone number, and organization. Our EITC Coordinator will contact you right away to provide you with materials, information, and support.

The South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center, (formerly the San Benito Literacy Center), is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

For further information of VITA sites, and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics you may go to:
http://www.tax-coalition.org/.

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Child Tax Credits

How can you benefit from the Child Tax Credit? CTC is a federal tax credit. New eligibility requirements enacted by congress allow more families to become eligible for the CTC, regardless of whether they owe income tax. Certain families may also be eligible for both the CTC and the EITC.

You may claim this credit if you pay someone to care for your dependent who is under 13 or for your spouse or dependent who is not able to care for him or herself. The Credit can be up to 30% of your expenses. To qualify, you must pay these expenses so you can work or look for work.  

Education Credits Education Credits are available to persons who pay expenses for higher education. You can claim this credit if A) you pay qualified tuition and related expenses of higher education (this includes borrowed funds) B) you pay the tuition and related expenses for an eligible student C) the eligible student is either yourself, your spouse or a dependent you claim.

Earned Income Tax Credit What is the Earned Income Tax Credit? It's money in your pocket! The Earned Income Tax Credit is refundable Federal tax credit for eligible individuals and families who work and have earned income. The EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe, and it may give you refund.

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VITA Locations

Tentative 2005 schedule for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Tax (VITA) and Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites in the Rio Grande Valley.

Brownsville: UT-Brownsville/TSC 301 Mexico Blvd. Dates Open: 2/4/06 - 4/15/06 Tuesdays 1:30-7:30 Saturdays: 9:00-12:00	Edinburg: UT-Pan American 1201 W. University COBA 212C Dates Open: 2/07/06 - 4/13/06 Tues., Wed., Thurs.: 5:30-7:30 PM
McAllen: South Texas College 3700 West Military Call site for days/times	San Benito: START Center 743 N. Sam Houston Blvd Dates Open: 1/15/06 - 4/30/06 Mon.-Thurs. : 1:00 - 4:00 PM Sat. : 9:00 - 2:00 PM
Laredo: Laredo Public Library 1120 E. Calton Rd. Dates Open: 1/21/06 - 4/8/06 Sat.: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM	Laredo: Bruni Plaza Library 1120 San Bernardo Dates Open: 1/24/06 - 4/11/06 Tues., Thurs.: 4:00 - 7:00 PM Sat.: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Laredo: Santo Nino Branch Library 2200 Zacatecas Dates Open: 1/23/06 - 4/10/06 Mon., Wed.: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Brownsville: Public Utilities Board 1425 Robinhood Dr. Dates Open: 2/06/06 - 3/27/06 Mon.: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Brownsville: Cameron Works Mobile Site Open Dates: 02/01/06- 4/15/06 Wed., Thurs.,: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM	Harlingen: Harlingen Public Library 410 76 Drive Open Dates: 1/28/06 - 4/11/06 Mon., Tues.: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sat.: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

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