Photo By Samantha Harms | A family checks in for their appointment with the United Way of Central Texas' free...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- United Way of Central Texas has partnered with First Heroes National Bank to offer free tax preparation to the Fort Hood community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
The VITA program volunteers provide basic income tax return services without charging, which helps to ensure that 100% of a participant’s tax refund goes directly back to them.
Appointments for tax preparation will be available between 12 and 4 p.m. every Tuesday, now until April 18. In order to qualify for this service, you must have a household income of $60,000 a year or less.
“This is an IRS certified program,” Veshell Greene, vice president of resource development with United Way of Central Texas, shared. “Last year, we did over 1,000 tax returns that equaled up to $1.8 million in refunds back to this community and at a 98% acceptance rate. This program allows us to be able to touch the different communities, which is all of our communities.”
While UWCT has traditionally offered this service every year throughout the Central Texas community, this is the first time that the service is available on the installation.
“I think it’s definitely a gap that needed to be filled because they did offer free tax preparation services on Fort Hood (in) previous years and that no longer exists,” Greene expressed. “Where are those clients going? They’re gonna go pay for somebody to go get their taxes done (for) two, three, four hundred dollars at a minimum; whereas we’re doing it here for free, and again, they’re checked and then they’re double checked. And that’s how we’re able to maintain that 98, 99 percent acceptance rate by the IRS.”
Anyone who has access to the installation can sign up for an appointment at the First Heroes National Bank location.
While this is the first time this partnership between First Heroes National Bank and UWCT has occurred, it is both organizations’ intentions to maintain it every year.
“Obviously we work closely with Soldiers every day and you see some of the needs that they have, and this program is really a win-win because it doesn’t cost them anything,” expressed April Niswonger, assistant vice president with First Heroes National Bank. “The income level makes a lot of our Soldiers eligible, obviously. And, we want to make sure that we’re always investing in our community. And, this is another way to do that.”
Each volunteer is required to go through an IRS certification program in order to provide tax preparation services, including a 16-hour training course for anyone interested in learning to be a tax preparer at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
“When I was a Soldier, I did it on Fort Sill and it had its rewards,” Denise Bullard, a VITA volunteer, said. “I’m very glad they’re doing it on Fort Hood, because it gives me a chance to come back and be amongst the Soldiers because I’m retired. And, I love to help.”
“It’s nice to have people who are close by and kind of understand like what we’re going through,” said Pfc. Vaughn Thomas, Headquarters and Headquarters Command, 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. “It’s nice to have people be there for you when you need them.”
Those who choose to use this service are required to bring the following documents: photo ID, social security card (for you, your spouse and all dependents), W-2s, checking/savings account statement with bank routing numbers if you want a direct deposit of tax refund.
It is also important to note that if you are married and filing jointly, your spouse must be present at the appointment to sign all documents, or power of attorney paperwork must be present.
There are VITA sites in Temple, Belton, Killeen and Harker Heights.
To schedule an appointment and to find more information on what additional paperwork may be applicable for you to bring, visit uwct.org or call 254-778-8616.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2023 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 439676 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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