For the City Times

CAP Services, who partners with Mid-State Technical College and the IRS to offer the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help people file their taxes completely free of charge, still has appointment slots available.

Low- to moderate-income individuals and families can call United Way’s 2-1-1 by Friday, April 7, to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment to have their taxes prepared and e-filed for free. Services are geared toward households with annual income below 200 percent of the poverty level. For example, a family of 3 with $40,000 in income qualifies.

Households that make less than $64,000 may also choose to file online for free at MyFreeTaxes.com.

VITA helps individuals and families maximize their tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation and inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Credit (EIC), and Wisconsin’s Homestead Credit.

“Individuals who may have only earned a little money throughout the year can still take advantage of these refundable tax credits, even if they’re not required to file a return,” said Erin Olson of CAP Services. “The Earned Income Credit is a great benefit for anyone who worked, regardless of whether or not they have children. In fact, single individuals can have earnings up to $14,880 and still qualify for the credit.”

CAP Services, Inc. is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been advancing social and economic justice for low-income people in Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties since 1966.