More than a dozen people came out to the James Frazier community center in Bucksport Saturday to get their taxes done for free.
The returns were done through through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. Volunteers are preparing and e-filing basic tax returns for people who earn less than $49,078.
Janie Green of Green Sea got her taxes done through VITA last year. She's back again this year.
"It's same as if you paid 300 dollars, you'd still have to get it back in 10-14 days. So why not get it done for free and you still get it back in 10 to 14 days," Green said.
"Its not simply 10-40 easy, which a lot of those other free programs limit you to. We do 10-40 easy, A, 10-40 long form. We itemize. We can do some self employment. The only thing we do not do is if you have rental income or if you have businesses," Utocqua Grissett, the Horry County VITA Coordinator said in a past interview with NewsChannel 15.
Last year, local volunteers assisted 1,627 taxpayers filing tax returns in 2010 with the taxpayers receiving more than $1.5 million in refunds. It is estimated that the free service offered at the VITA sites saved these Horry County taxpayers more than $536,428 (average $150 per person).
If you're interested in getting a free tax return prepared, the VITA program will be available in room 204 of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration building on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. They will also be at Surfside Library on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00p.m., Chapin Memorial Library Wednesdays from 3:00p.m.-6:00p.m., and Conway Library Saturdays 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
