Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program – VITA 2023
Iowa State University students will be offering free tax preparation services through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program again this season. Taxpayers with household incomes of $60,000 or less are eligible for basic return preparation services. This service is limited to taxpayers that are within the scope limitations set out by the IRS. Please see the limitations here: Scope of Service. Some common items we see that are out of scope are: wash sales, virtual/Bitcoin trading, complicated 1099-B transactions. Because of the IRS limitations, we will be unable to prepare your return if you have any items that are outside the scope of the guidelines. Free electronic filing (e-filing) of eligible federal and state returns is also available.
Do you have transactions that are outside the scope of our guidelines? Having trouble getting an appointment with our clinic? Would you like to prepare your own return with in scope assistance from our tax professional? Check out the following below where you can prepare your own return through Cash App at your convenience. FSA Cash App A tax professional will be available to you via email on Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.. isuvita@gmail.com CashApp is unavailable for non-resident returns. If your return is complicated or does not fall within the guidelines for VITA and you do not wish to prepare your own return, please see a professional preparer for assistance.
The VITA program at Iowa State is located in the Gerdin Business Building on the Iowa State campus. The program will be offered beginning February 13, and run through April 13, except for the week when Iowa State University is on spring break (March 14 – 18). This year we will be offering tax preparation Monday through Thursday nights.
Make an Appointment
Please visit https://isuvita.setmore.com to make an appointment. Appointments will open on February 1. Please note, once the appointments are full, the website will not allow you to select any of the time slots even though you can see the time slot you desire.
Also, the actual tax preparation process may take up to two or three hours, so please plan accordingly the day of your appointment.
Parking
Free parking is available at the East Campus Parking Deck, across the street from the Gerdin Business Building, evenings after 5:30 p.m. Paid parking is available at the Memorial Union Parking Ramp during all sessions. CyRide also has stops outside the Gerdin Business Building; visit the CyRide site for route details, cyride.com.
Preparation
We will review all of your information at the beginning of your appointment to ensure your return falls within our guidelines. Please be advised that if your return falls outside of our guidelines, we will not be able to prepare your return.
Taxpayers should bring the following to the VITA site to have their returns prepared:
- Proof of identification – a government-issued photo ID is required
- Social Security Cards for you, your spouse, and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration – required
- Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return
- Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
- A copy of last year’s Federal and State tax returns
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
- Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number (an individual’s Social Security Number or the business’ Employer Identification Number)
- To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
- You must also know whether you are being claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.
For further information, contact Chris Moon, at cmoon@iastate.edu or isuvita@gmail.com. For more information about the program, visit the IRS website, irs.gov.
