The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax help for taxpayers who qualify. Trained community volunteers may help with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, ECCO will provide free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper – even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into one's bank account.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country.

ECCO's is sponsoring VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) as part of its community-wide 'Out of Poverty Initiative.'

Coordinator, Phil Weekland said, 'The IRS requires each counselor to go through twelve hours of training. It was intensive for all of our volunteers. It shows how they (volunteers) are committed to helping people to go through all of the classes. VITA is a program designed to help households with an annual income of $48,279 or less. It is not just for people in poverty, but for the working poor.'

Those who are interested in receiving this help should bring the following:

•Taxpayer's Picture ID

•Social Security numbers for each person on the return

• All W-2 statements, 1099's and 1098's

•Daycare provider expenses for child credit

• Documents for new car tax credit

•Documents to claim new homebuyer's credit

•Applicable expense receipts for deductions

•Both taxpayers if filing jointly

'This is a new service we are offering to our community. Some folks may qualify for the earned income tax credit which could be as much as $5600,' said Weekland who has volunteered at ECCO for more than four years.

Earned Income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:

•$43,279 ($48,279 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children

•$40,295 ($45,295 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children

•$35,463 ($40,463 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child

•$13,440 ($18,440 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

The service will be offered ‘first come, first served on Fridays, 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to noon. ECCO is located at 1145 Six Mile Road in Mt. Pleasant.