DES MOINES, Iowa — It's tax season, and if you need help preparing your returns, you may be eligible for free tax assistance.
Since January, the United Way of Central Iowa has already helped file more than a thousand tax returns here at the main office.
"We've been doing it for over 20 years," said Michelle Seibert, economic opportunity officer for the United Way of Central Iowa.
Seibert knows filing your taxes can be confusing. And that's why the United Way wants to take the work out of your hands.
"We walk through the tax return to make sure that you understand everything," she said. "So, we can make sure that they're not overpaying or not getting access to certain credits that put money back in their pockets."
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic provides tax experts to get your paperwork squared away.
To take part, though, you need to meet an income requirement, which changes depending on the number of people in your household:
- 1 Person in Household: $40,770 or less
- 2 People in Household: $54,930 or less
- 3 People in Household: $69,090 or less
- 4 People in Household: $83,250 or less
- 5 People in Household: $97,410 or less
Seibert said people often feel apprehensive about sharing personal finance information, but assures there's no need to worry.
"What we do at United Way and at VITA generally is make people feel comfortable about opening up their lives really to us," Seibert said.
It's a service the United Way of Central Iowa prides itself on providing.
"We believe that people need sufficient income and opportunities to build wealth to really thrive in our community," Seibert said.
The clinic has two locations, one at the United Way office at 1111 9th Street and the other at Polk County River Place at 2309 Euclid Avenue.
For a full list of hours and required documents, you can dial 211 or visit the VITA website at https://www.unitedwaydm.org/vita.