Tax Preparation (VITA)

VITA

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

STEP provides free tax preparation services for families and individuals earning less than $67,000 annually. All of our VITA staff and volunteers are trained and certified to prepare most standard IRS documents (i.e. 1040, 1040-SR) and state returns. All can be electronically filed with the respective agency.

Our goal with the VITA program is to help clients take advantage of the tax credits available to them and to save them on average $250 in tax preparation fees. All of our services are free, which means you get to keep more of your money! During the 2024 tax season, we saved our clients approximately $110,000 in fees! We were also able to help our clients get around $248,000 in tax credits.

STEP offers assistance at both the Rocky Mount and Stuart offices, beginning in January and ending in April.

How the process works:

• Pick up a packet of forms from either office.
• Return the completed packet, your tax documents (W-2, 1099, 1095A, etc.), your driver license (and spouse’s), and your Social Security card (and spouse’s and all dependents).
• Review packet and forms with a staff member to ensure everything is completed and no documents are missing (takes about 5-10 mins).
• Tax return is prepared by a trained and certified volunteer or staff member.
• Tax return is reviewed by a trained and certified volunteer or staff member.
• Client is called and the results are reviewed.
• Client returns to the office to sign form 8879, e-file Signature Authorization (allows us to e-file your federal return) and to pick up their tax documents for their records.
• Returns are transmitted.
• You will only be contacted after this if there is a problem with your return and it was rejected for any reason.