Last-minute tax filer? Get free help at VITA sites in Central and

Hartford, Conn., April 5, 2019 – There’s still time to get free tax help at VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites throughout Greater Hartford and Windham Counties.

If you or your family’s 2018 income is up to $55,000, if you have a disability or speak limited English, make an appointment at a VITA site online at 211CT.org or by calling 211.

Walk-in filers at many of the 26 VITA sites in Hartford, Tolland and Windham county are welcome, including these times and locations:

April 6, 10am-2pm: Microsoft Store at Westfarms Mall, West Hartford

April 8, 10am-2pm: Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, East Hartford

On tax deadline day, April 15, walk-in filers will receive support from noon to midnight at the Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative, 1229 Albany Ave # 1, Hartford, CT 06112.

In addition to face-to-face support, free online self-preparation and tax help is available for people who make up to $66,000 at myfreetaxes.com.

Make sure to bring these documents with you to your VITA tax help appointment:

• Photo IDs for the filer, his/her spouse (if married) and Social Security cards for everyone on the family’s return
• A W-2 form for each job you held, or a 1099 form for each contractor who paid you.
• Did you have Social Security Income? Social Security income can be taxable in certain situations, so don't forget your statement (SSA - 1099).
• Health Insurance tax documents - forms 1095A, 1095B, or 1095C.
• Were you a victim of identity theft? If this has happened to you and you reported it to the IRS, you will be issued an ID Protection Pin number. A new number is mailed to you by the IRS every year and it MUST be included in your return. Tax preparers must see these documents at the time of filing.
• If you anticipate a refund and want to direct deposit the refund into your bank account, don't forget to bring your routing and account numbers.

About the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Connecticut

VITA’s IRS-certified volunteers help individuals and families with 2018 incomes up to $55,000, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. Federal and State returns are prepared and electronically filed at no charge. Along with tax filing help, taxpayers can learn more about financial literacy support available to them from each organization.

To schedule an appointment or locate VITA tax assistance sites in your city or town, visit www.211ct.org or dial 2-1-1 and press ‘3’ then ‘6’.

For more than a decade, VITA coalitions have been helping working families become financially secure. Free tax preparation is one way for hard-working families to keep more money in their wallets by obtaining the tax refunds and credits they have earned. Last year nearly 28,500 tax filers across Connecticut received close to $54 million in refunds and credits thanks to the efforts of the volunteers and organizations involved in the VITA program.

The 2019 VITA and MyFreeTaxes program partners are: CT Association for Human Services; Human Resources Agency of New Britain; Internal Revenue Service; The Village for Families & Children; and Connecticut United Ways.