About VITA

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is an important program in our community. VITA provides free tax preparation through IRS-certified volunteers. Last year 52 volunteers prepared over 2,000 tax returns and saved taxpayers $500,000 in tax preparation fees. Nearly $1 million in federal tax refunds were returned to our community.

The VITA program, in cooperation with Community Partnership of the Ozarks and the Across the Lifespan Coalition, is currently offering free assistance to taxpayers for amended returns, property tax credit and rent rebate. IRS-certified volunteers are available by appointment to file federal 1040 returns, and find credits you may not know you’re eligible to receive.

[pullquote]If you’re interested in more information about this program or in volunteering, please contact Hannah Sheehan at hsheehan@cpozarks.org or 417-888-2020.[/pullquote]

In order to be eligible for assistance through the VITA program, households must have made $55,000 or less in 2017. The 2018 VITA clinics cannot file for foreign exchange students, taxpayers who own rental property, previous year or amended returns, or taxpayers who have filed for bankruptcy in the past year.

For taxpayers age 60 and over, free assistance is available by appointment from Tax Counseling for the Elderly at 417-862-0762.