By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Free income tax preparation sites are opening in Bloomington-Normal for low-income residents who need help with their taxes.
Volunteers with the Bloomington-Normal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA Foundation tax preparers will be set up at five locations to help those eligible complete their state and federal returns.
United Way of McLean County’s director of community impact, Michael Donnelly, quoted a survey from the National Society of Accountants which shows the average cost of professional tax preparation is $261.
“Being able to save those dollars and being able to utilize that for their families is extremely helpful,” Donnelly said.
Donnelly notes the volunteer tax preparers are IRS-certified.
“Anything that they wouldn’t be able to address they would definitely be able to connect individuals to those resources but for a basic return they can held those,” Donnelly said.
The program is available to single individuals with no dependents and income of $35,000 or less, single with dependents and income of $55,000 or less and married couples with combined incomes of $55,000 or less.
Locations:
Heartland Community College, 1500 W. Raab Road, Normal, Workforce Development Center, Room 3601
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 5 to 8 p.m.
Bloomington Housing Authority, 104 E. Wood Street, Bloomington
Monday: 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.
Mid Central Community Action, 1301 W. Washington St., Bloomington
Wednesdays: 5 to 8 p.m. (By appointment only, call 309 829-0691)
Normal Activity Center, 1110 Douglas St., Normal
Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (By appointment only, call 309888-9099)
Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave., Bloomington
Fridays: (Feb 5th – April 18th) 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
