The Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA), for the fifth year, is offering free assistance to the public in preparing income tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA program. The VITA site will be located at the HACA Center at 26 John St., Hoosick Falls, the former home of the Falls Federal Credit Union. The office will be open each Saturday beginning January 31st, from 9 to 3 pm and on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 pm through February. In March and April, the office will be open on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm and on Thursdays by appointment. Office hours have been scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate people who find it difficult to take time off from work. The service is free and is provided by local volunteers who have completed an IRS training course in basic income tax preparation.
Call Dianne at 686-5310 to make an appointment. Volunteer positions at the site, such as reception, filing, photo copying or hostessing are also available.
The VITA program offers free assistance to those with low to middle incomes (wage earners who make $40,000 or less) who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A or a basic 1040 Federal tax return. Most returns for both Federal and State (including Vermont and Massachusetts) can be filed electronically and, upon request, refunds can be deposited electronically into a checking or savings account.