Wake County Free Tax Prep
A Public Service of the Wake EITC Coalition
Free Income Tax Preparation by Volunteers
- Free preparation of your income tax return
- Free electronic filing of your return
- Free direct deposit of your return into your bank account(s)
- Free printed copy for your records
- Most income tax refunds are deposited in your bank account in 10 days!
Latest Announcements and Search Results:
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Know how to file your own return electronically? Use this website to file your 2012 Federal AND State return FREE if you earned $57,000 or less.
Go to www.myfreetaxes.com/frc Must have an active email account. Tax help for this website can be sent to taxhelp@frcofraleigh.org.
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Taxpayers who use some schedules will have to wait until mid-February or March. So far, there is no reason to expect refunds to be delayed.
By Teresa Mears Tue 9:24 PM
The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting tax returns on Jan. 30, 2013, though taxpayers who use some forms will not be able to file until February or March.
The agency had planned to begin accepting returns Jan. 22, but it delayed that schedule to update computers and forms to account for most of the changes Congress made in the fiscal cliff legislation passed last week. Read the rest of this entry »
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Raleigh, North Carolina — January 23, 2012 — The Wake County Free Tax Preparation Program is a public service of the Wake EITC Coalition and is free of charge to qualifying individuals with an income less than $50,000.00/year or who are over 62 years old (find free tax preparation sites in your area here). During the 2011 tax season, the program served thousands of Wake County community members who took part in the 2011 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Program sponsors for this year included: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the City of Raleigh, the United Way of the Greater Triangle, Debtors Unite, EITC Carolinas Initiative at MDC, Inc., and Republic Bank. It is in part to their unwavering support that the Coalition can offer the Free Tax Preparation Service.
With fifteen sites countywide, the Coalition as a whole completed a total of 5,444 tax returns this season for the 2010 fiscal year. Of these, $1.5million were Earned Income Tax Credits claimed by qualifying individuals. According to the IRS, “the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for certain people who work and have low wages.1”
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) totals included seven sites countrywide and twenty-three volunteers preparing and filing $2.1million in total refunds and $836,000.00 in EITC. An average of 1,480 tax returns were completed, increasing the previous years’ levels by 50%. By using the VITA sites during the 2011 tax season, a total of 461 families who had who had obtained a refund anticipation loan or who had paid to have their taxed prepared during the 2010 tax season, saved an average of at least $11,000.00 and $45,279.00, respectively. VITA sites serve community members who are of low income, speak a first language other than English and/or who are disabled.
The Wake EITC Coalition is a “collaboration between community partners, volunteers and government agencies organized to ease the burden of paying taxes, improve accuracy of tax returns and help taxpayers find community resources.2” The Coalition was formed in 2007 and receives training and support from the EITC Carolinas Initiative, as well as from local IRS partners and common goal organizations. It is clear that it continues to grow with each passing year.
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2010 federal and North Carolina income tax returns are due April 18th this year. Most of our free tax sites will be open until that deadline, including Fiscal Progress.
If you will not have your 2010 paperwork gathered by the deadline, you can also file for an extension. This does not change when the tax you may still owe is due, but allows you 6 more months to file your tax return. The Fiscal Progress location can aid you in e-filing your extension form.
After April 18th, the Fiscal Progress location will also continue to prepare and file taxes year-round by appointment only. This location does tax returns for years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and can do amendments as well. You can call (919) 719-1750 for an appointment.
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The state legislature is holding a press conference on Thursday, March 3 regarding the state earned income tax credit (EITC). Due to budget constraints, a proposal has been made to eliminate the refundable portion of the state EITC to save an estimated $52 million in the budget. Advocates with multiple nonprofit groups have another message, stating that cutting the refundable portion would be detrimental to the working poor. The EITC is designed to be an offset for the higher portion of taxes that low income families pay towards sales and other taxes. It also rewards those who are working but are unable to afford the basic necessities in life. Please review the following statement prepared for Thursday’s press conference: Read the rest of this entry »
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Are you anxiously awaiting your income tax refund? The Internal Revenue Service has embraced technology and is now offering an app that allows you to check the status of your refund on your iPhone or Android smartphone.Just go to the iTunes store (or Android Marketplace) to download the free IRS2Go app. It just takes a few seconds to download.
Of course if you took advantage of free income tax preparation and filing through your local VITA or TaxAide partner, you already know when to expect your refund. If you filed by Wednesday, then your direct deposit would be in your bank account the second Friday. A paper check would be mailed the third Friday and would likely arrive a few days later. This schedule is true for the entire tax season.
For more information, visit IRS.gov or search for the IRS2Go app in the iTunes store or Android Marketplace.
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National EITC Day brought out Internal Revenue Service officials and Representative Brad Miller to Wake VITA locations as a way to show support for local efforts. National EITC Day is an IRS-sponsored event that spreads news about available programs serving seniors and lower income tax filers.First, Representative Brad Miller serving the 13th District in North Carolina visited with tax filers and volunteers at the Wake County Human Services office at Swinburne Street in eastern Raleigh. He was accompanied by IRS Senior Operations Advisor Joseph Wilson, IRS Greensboro Territory Manager Roger Burton and IRS Tax Consultant Jennifer Yearsley. UNC Radio also made a visit to publicize the event.
IRS officials Wilson, Burton and Yearsley also visited Fiscal Progress in western Raleigh where they met with tax filers and volunteers. Stan Holt, Director of Regional Initiatives with the United Way of
the Greater Triangle also was on hand to visit with all in attendance. Officials wanted to see the VITA locations that have spearheaded the Wake EITC Coalition over the past several years. IRS officials fielded numerous questions from volunteers and funders.The Internal Revenue Service and United Way of the Greater Triangle have each provided funding for the Wake EITC Coalition and outreach efforts and continue to be primary sponsors of the service here in Wake County.
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Jennifer R. Bosk Communications Director jbosk@unitedwaytriangle.org Office: (919) 463-5013 Cell: (919) 522-8122
CONTACT:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Many May Overlook Valuable Tax Credit
Taxes Prepared for FREE at VITA Sites Throughout the Triangle
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK (January 28, 2011) – Each year, almost three-quarters of Triangle low-income households pay fees of up to $300 in tax preparation costs, or approximately 10-15 percent of their expected return, that could have been done for free by utilizing a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA ) site.
Further, many of these households also fail to claim tax credits designed to provide relief, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). While the average EITC recipient receives $1,700 annually (ranges anywhere from $2 to $5,600), as many as 20 percent of eligible workers do not collect EITC simply because they are not filing for it; and less than 1 percent use a community VITA site.
People move into and out of EITC eligibility based on changes in their earnings, their parental status or their marital status according to Stan Holt, Director of Regional Initiatives at United Way of the Greater Triangle which sponsors the promotion of services available at VITA sites in the Triangle. “Many people will qualify for the first time this year due to economic changes in their incomes.”
Holt encourages anyone who earned $48,362 or less from wages, self-employment or farming in 2010 to see if they qualify. Eligible workers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns – even if they are not otherwise required to file – and specifically claim the credit.
“IRS estimates four out of five eligible workers claim their EITC. We want to raise that to five out of five,” Holt added. “You earned it. Now file, claim it and get it.”
Taxpayers can get free help determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit at any of the various Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site in North Carolina, call 877-NC4-EITC.The sites are staffed by IRS trained volunteers.
Last year, United Way’s support resulted in the number of VITA sites increasing by 50% across the region and this resulted in nearly $ 400,000 going to qualifying taxpayers.
To help accurately determine their EITC eligibility and prepare their returns, individuals should bring:
- Photo proof of identification
- Social Security cards for themselves, their spouse and dependents or Social Security number verification letters issued by the Social Security Administration
- Birth dates for all persons listed on the tax return
- Wage and earning statement(s) Forms W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R, from all employers
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
- Copies of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
- Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of their refunds
- Other relevant information about income and expenses
- Amounts paid for day care, if applicable and the day care provider’s identifying number.
To electronically file their returns and get the fastest refunds, both spouses must be present to sign joint returns.
“EITC is a financial boost for working people hit by hard economic times. This is money that can make their lives a little easier, especially families with three or more children who get an extra boost with a larger credit this year,” Holt said.
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United Way of the Greater Triangle improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. United Way of the Greater Triangle serves Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties by connecting callers to health and human service programs through United Way 2-1-1. To learn more about United Way of the Greater Triangle visit our website: www.unitedwaytriangle.org.
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Due to late-passed legislation, the IRS is not set up to accept all tax returns electronically at this time.
If you are a teacher deducting expenses incurred for your profession, you will have to wait to e-file. All itemizers will have to wait as well. If you have a mortgage or excessive medical expenses, you likely itemize.
According to the IRS, affected tax filers will be able to e-file Monday, February 14th. These returns are due April 18th along with the rest of 2010 individual income tax returns.
If you are an affected tax filer, you can still have your taxes prepared once you have received all your tax information. At our free tax preparation sites, we can prepare these tax returns, but will hold off on e-filing them until we have received the go-ahead from the IRS.
Questions? Contact your free tax preparation site.
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Tax season 2010 is upon us! This week there are several sites in Raleigh that are already open for free tax preparation.
These sites are open:
Fiscal Progress VITA Site
Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10-5
Appointments recommended (call 719-1750)Wake County Human Services – Swinburne Location
Open Tuesdays 12-6, Thursdays 11-4, and Fridays 10-2Martin Street CDC
Open Tuesdays 5-8, Thursdays 5-8More sites will be open next week. Be sure that you have already received all W-2s and other tax documents before you come into a free tax sites. Employers have until January 31st to send them out.