Program Will Offer Free Tax Assistance Into April

Free tax assistance will be available to the elderly, the handicapped, non-English speakers and people with limited income at more than 20 local sites through mid-April.

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and VITA, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance group, the program is designed to provide free assistance in filling out Form 1040EZ, a basic form 1040, or Form 1040A, according to Bobbi Piacquadio, spokesperson for the Spokane Taxpayer Service Division.

“There are a lot of people in the Spokane area who take advantage of the VITA program, primarily the low-income,” said Piacquadio. “The volunteers are really enthusiastic about helping them. … That’s what we’re here for.”

While most itemized deductions and credits will be included in the assistance program, tax matters such as capital gains and business expenses will not be addressed, Piacquadio said.

Most VITA volunteers are college undergraduates, law students, retirees and members of professional organizations, who receive a special training course in basic tax preparation.

About 150 VITA volunteers at 40 sites assisted 2,912 taxpayers in the Spokane area last year.

For more information, contact the IRS main information number: 1-800-829-1040.

The assistance will be available at the following times and locations:

West Plains Community Center, 13120 West 13th, Airway Heights, Feb. 7-April 11, Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.

Regal Post Office, S5428 Regal, Feb. 15-April 15, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Spokane Public Library, Lincoln and Main, Feb. 3-April 14, Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

East Central Community Center, S500 Stone, Feb. 8-April 12, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

U.S. Courthouse, W920 Riverside, main floor lobby, Feb. 8-April 17, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Spokane Falls Community College lobby, Student Union Building 17, Feb. 6-March 15, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Deaf Services Center, N1206 Howard, March 4-April 15, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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