Note: Taxes will be prepared on Mondays and Wednesdays this year.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will again be available for East Valley residents. Income should be less than $69,000 to qualify for this service. Information for locations providing this service is available by going to www.prepareandempower.org/sites. Some locations are walk-in, and some require appointments. The specifics are on the website.
The Sun Lakes site (25105 S. Alma School Road, northeast corner at Riggs Road) is open beginning Feb. 2. This site offers walk-in tax preparation on Mondays where your taxes are prepared while you wait. We also offer a drop-off service on Mondays where, after a short interview, you can drop off your tax materials and pick up your completed return the following week.
Tax preparation on Wednesdays requires an appointment, which can be made by going online to www.PrepareandEmpower.org/appointment.
The white envelopes, which contain the yellow form that must be filled out prior to your taxes being prepared, can be picked up at the Sun Lakes tax site on Monday or Wednesday or by visiting the Administrative Services counter at Sun Lakes Country Club (25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd.). Appointment times are at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon on most Wednesdays.
Both federal and state returns are filed electronically, and both spouses must be present to sign their return if married filing jointly. We do not prepare returns that include house/home rentals, married filing separate, losses on businesses, or nondeductible IRAs.
Bring the following when you come to the appointment: picture ID, form SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement (or Social Security card), proof of all incomes such as 1099-R retirement forms, W-2 forms, interest, and dividend 1099 forms, self-employment records, etc. If available, bring your prior year’s tax returns for federal and state.
As the IRS no longer accepts checks as payment nor issues checks on any refunds, you will need to provide us your banking information. The IRS will not deposit into an account that does not have your name registered on it.