Editorial: Take advantage of free local income tax help

Published 7:28 pm Thursday, January 17, 2019

April 15 may seem like months away — well, because it is — but that day, the deadline to file your state and federal tax returns, will be here before you know it.

Keep in mind that although the federal government is partially shut down, the Internal Revenue Service will process tax returns beginning Monday, Jan. 28. Taxpayer refunds will proceed as scheduled.

Tax professionals routinely recommend you begin amassing all of your tax-related documents, and then file as soon as possible. The U.S. tax code can be complex, and filling out your tax forms properly can be difficult.

Fortunately for those in the Dalton community, there’s help. There are two local programs providing assistance to those who need help.

Georgia United Credit Union has teamed up with the IRS and Dalton State College to provide the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the community. The VITA program offers free tax filing assistance to people with low to moderate income.

Appointments can be reserved at gucu.org/membership/vita-tax-prep, or for those without internet access, phone reservations can be made at (770) 476-6400, ext. 1486. Appointments can be reserved on Friday evenings through March 15 and Saturdays through March 16. Sessions are at Georgia United Credit Union’s Dalton branch, 605 Calhoun St.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, offers tax preparation help to anyone — AARP members and non-members alike — who can’t afford it. Nearly 35,000 volunteers serve low- to moderate-income taxpayers at 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers nationwide.

There’s no fee, and AARP membership is not required. The Tax-Aide program is available at the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library on Tuesdays and Fridays from Feb. 5 through April 16 (on the days the library is open) and at the Mack Gaston Community Center on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Feb. 2 through April 13.