Individual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Offered Feb. 9 to Residents With Incomes up to $51,000
LITTLE ROCK, AR. (Feb. 1, 2013) — Income-eligible individuals and families in Helena-West Helena, Arkadelphia, El Dorado and Malvern in Arkansas and in Clarksdale, Drew, Greenville, Indianola and Shelby in Mississippi can get free income tax filing services at Individual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Super Saturday (Feb. 9).
Electronic tax returns will be prepared by IRS-certified volunteers for residents with an annual earned income of $51,000 or less. The tax preparation service, offered through April 15, is sponsored by Southern Bancorp and Southern Bancorp Community Partners.
Information about the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and other opportunities will be available at all locations.
Any resident interested in attending college can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which requires much of the same documentation needed to file income taxes, at the VITA site in Helena-West Helena while taxes are being prepared. Deadline for FAFSA submission in Arkansas is June 1. Other FAFSA assistance is available during College Goal Sunday on Feb. 20; for more information visit http://www.arcollegegoalsunday.org/ and http://www.mscollegegoalsunday.org/.
In Helena and Clarksdale, taxpayers can also learn about programs that can help with home purchase, small business development, credit repair, and college financing.
Last tax season more than 2,000 taxpayers filed their taxes at Southern VITA sites. Those who qualified received a combined total of almost $5 million in refunds and credits.
Appointments and walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment at the following VITA sites in Arkansas call:
• Helena-West Helena — Vida Fielder, (870) 816-1126.
• Arkadelphia — Joanne Crutchfield, (870) 246-5811.
• El Dorado — Katrina Ponder, (870) 875-6012.
• Malvern — Brittany Speer, (501) 337-4944.
To schedule an appointment at the following VITA sites in Mississippi call:
• Clarksdale — Shelia Ramsey, (662) 624-5776
• Drew — Kerenski Robinson, (662) 745-6604
• Greenville — Ruby Johnson, (662) 334-1898
• Indianola – Neeley Vance, (662) 887-9520
• Shelby – Edna Bland, (662) 398-5115
To find more VITA sites in Arkansas and Mississippi visit www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep.
Southern Bancorp is one of America’s largest and most profitable community development banks. Together with its nonprofit affiliate Southern Bancorp Community Partners, it seeks to reduce poverty by improving education and economic opportunities for individuals and families. For more information visit www.banksouthern.com and www.southernpartners.org.