Pittsylvania County Community Action begins free tax preparation | News

This year’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program launched Wednesday, Jan. 20, in Danville.

This community-based outreach, sponsored by Pittsylvania County Community Action, Inc., offers free tax preparation services to working families and individuals who earned less than $57,000 in 2020.

Operated under the strict guidelines of the IRS, all tax returns are professionally and confidentially prepared and then electronically filed at no charge. Last year local VITA program volunteers prepared over 1,300 tax returns.

Beginning in January and operating through April 15, IRS-certified volunteers will prepare state and federal tax returns for low and moderate income families and individuals at no cost. Volunteers are trained to ensure taxpayers receive the maximum tax refund to which they are entitled and determine if they are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and others.

These trained preparers will also ensure any COVID economic stimulus payments for which a taxpayer is qualified but has not received will be claimed on their 2020 taxes.

Due to COVID concerns, taxpayers must make an appointment to drop off all tax documents at our Danville office. Volunteers will then communicate with clients via phone and/or email.

For taxpayers who are comfortable using a computer there are two other options for filing their federal and state taxes at no cost. VITA has teamed up with Code For America’s “GetYourRefund” at GetYourRefund.org/DanvilleVA to file your taxes online with the help of our certified VITA volunteers. You will be asked a series of questions, guided through procedures for uploading your tax documents, and then contacted by a volunteer who will prepare your return. 

The second option for tax filers who are comfortable using the computer is to go to myfreetaxes.com where you will be guided through the entire electronic filing procedure.

For more information about these free tax preparation services or to make an appointment for document drop off, call 434-549-8233. The office is located in Nor Dan Shopping Center, sharing space with the Virginia Workforce Center, at 211 Nor Dan Drive, Suite 1055.

Appointments for document drop off are accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.