In partnership with Community Link, Goodwill is offering virtual tax assistance to qualified individuals free of charge.
Goodwill® Industries of the Southern Piedmont will offer free tax preparation services to qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Offered in partnership with Community Link and the Internal Revenue Service, this volunteer-driven program provides free tax assistance by certified tax preparers to individuals or families with an adjusted gross income of $58,000 or less.
Goodwill is operating the VITA site virtually through Monday, April 18. The site will be open by appointment only on a first come first serve basis through this website. “The average tax return can cost a family or individual $200, this money can be used for other expenses such as childcare, food, transportation, or other needs,” said Janice Gray, director of Client Experience & Family Service at Goodwill. “Our partnership with Community Link helps people in our community use their earnings for other things than taxes and saves them time. We now offer these services virtually and we can reach more people in our community while keeping them safe.”
Goodwill encourages taxpayers to ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides tax breaks for some working families who earn up to $53,000 and can provide refunds up to $6,044. The IRS estimates that nearly 20 percent of eligible workers do not claim the EITC each year because they lack awareness of the program, cannot afford costly tax preparation fees or fear they will lose public benefits by filing.
To schedule an appointment, or to see if you qualify for free tax preparation, click here.
Please make sure you have the following items to receive assistance:
- Picture ID for both the taxpayer and spouse, if married and filing a joint return
- If married and filing a joint return, both individuals must be present to complete the return
- Social Security cards or ITIN cards for the taxpayer, spouse and all dependents listed on the return
- All income statements: W-2, 1099, 1099-NEC, SS Benefits Statement and other sources of income
- 1098 –T tuition statement for college and technical school dependents or students
- Forms 1095-A Affordable Health Care Statements
- Statement from childcare provider, which include the childcare identification number
- Letter 6475 (Economic Impact Payment) – stimulus payment
- Letter 6419 (Advanced Child Tax Credit)
- A copy of your 2019 and 2020 tax return
- Please download these apps onto your phone or computer prior to your appointment:
- Adobe Scan (phone)
- Verifyle (phone or computer)
- Zoom (phone or computer)
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