United Way will no longer be providing the in-person VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Tax Program. However, we are committed to connecting people to other free tax preparation offerings. There are options to file on your own or to connect to full-service programs to have your return prepared and filed for free. When people file for free, they save an average of $200 in filing fees.
For tax assistance, we encourage you to utilize the other community resources available:
- MyFreeTaxes helps people file their federal and state returns without spending any money in tax preparation fees. So far, MyFreeTaxes has helped 1.3 million people save $260 million in tax filing fees. It also screens for credit and deduction eligibility such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to ensure filers receive their maximum tax refund, and lets filers check for any missed stimulus payments. Learn more and start filing today at www.myfreetaxes.com.
- There are no age or income limits for one-on-one assistance by IRS-certified volunteers virtually and in-person at 5,000 Tax-Aide sites run by AARP. Tax-Aide sites are in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services. AARP membership is not required. Find a location near you here.
- Cocoa Beach Library (550 N. Brevard Avenue):
Returns will be prepared Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM beginning February 4. In-person appointments can be scheduled at the library on January 14 and January 22 from 9:30 to 12:30.
- Central Brevard Library (308 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa):
Returns will be prepared on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM starting 1 Feb. Appointments can be made in person on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm starting on January 21st and throughout the season.
- St Lukes’s Presbyterian Church (1255 Knox Mcrae Drive, Titusville):
Returns will be prepared on Mondays and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM beginning February 3. Call 321.355.2390 for appointments. Appointments can also be made in person after February 1 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the same days
- Ascension Lutheran Church (1053 Pinetree Drive, Indian Harbour Beach):
Returns will be prepared on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM beginning February 3. Appointments will be made in-person Jan 20, 21, 27, and 28 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Greater Palm Bay Senior Center (1275 Culver Drive NE, Palm Bay):
Returns will be prepared on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning February 3 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Appointments can be made from 9:00 - 1:00 on the above days starting January 28th.
- If you earn less than $69,000, you can file for free through IRS Free File, a partnership between the agency and the Free File Alliance, a group of private preparers. Click here for more details on the program. Each company has a slightly different free offering, so be sure to read the eligibility requirements. If possible, choose a program that will allow you to file both your federal and state returns for free. The IRS Free File program also offers Free Fillable File Forms, which are electronic versions of IRS paper forms. But that doesn’t include the software help available through Free File.
- If you’re in the military, you can use MilTax, a service provided by the Department of Defense that uses a version of H&R Block’s tax software. It’s free to active-duty service members, those in the National Guard or Reserves, and their families. There are no income or tax form restrictions.
- To find the next closest VITA site, go to www.myfreetaxes.com and choose to file your taxes “With assistance.”
If you have questions regarding your previous tax returns, please reach out directly to the IRS for support. You can find helpful resources and tools on their website at www.irs.gov or by calling their toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040.
Free Financial Education Workshops
United Way of Brevard offers FREE Financial workshops to the community in Brevard.
Interested in attending or setting up a workshop for your organization? Please call 321-631-2740 or email impact@uwbrevard.org
Keeping Track of Your Money Workshops are held in 60 to 90 minute sessions and can be tailored for all age groups. Topics covered:
• Learn how credit cards, credit scores and credit reports can have an impact on your financial goals
• How to create a Three Step Spending Plan
• Identify ways to manage and/or decrease spending
• Managing Debt and Credit
• Strategies to get out of debt
• Strategies to reduce stress by using simple money management practices
• Identity theft Prevention/ Identity theft recovery plan
• How to plan for retirement
