Free Tax Help Available

Thu., Feb. 2, 1995

Virginia De Leon Staff writer

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 from February through 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 issues 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:

Spokane County Library, Hawthorne Branch, E44 Hawthorne, Feb. 6-Apr. 17, Mondays, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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

Adult Basic Education Center, Institute for Extending Learning, N2320 Monroe, Feb. 2-23, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Spokane Community College, Lair Student Union Lobby, Feb. 9-Mar. 16, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spokane County Headstart/ ECEAP-Institute for Extended Learning, Hillyard Center, N4410 Market, Feb. 7-28, Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West Central Community Center, N1603 Belt, Feb. 1-Apr. 12, Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Deer Park City Hall, 316 East Crawford, Deer Park, Feb. 9-Apr. 13, Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Spokane Public Library, Shadle Park branch, Shadle Center, Feb. 2-Apr. 13, Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Deaf Services Center, N1206 Howard, Mar. 4-Apr. 15, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spokane Public Library, Hillyard branch, N4005 Cook, Feb. 4-Apr. 15, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Franklin Park Mall, N5628 Division, Feb. 5-Apr. 16, Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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