Kleberg County taxpayers with low to moderate incomes of $ 49,000 or less can receive free help in filing their 2009 federal income tax returns through the Kingsville Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

The Kingsville Community Federal Credit Union in collaboration with Community Volunteers, Texas A & M University Kingsville College of Business Administration and the Accounting Society has partnered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Through the VITA program, volunteers will provide free tax assistance and prepare federal tax returns for people with low to moderate incomes.

The Kingsville VITA program will start on January 23, 2010 and end on April 15, 2010. Services will be provided on Wednesdays starting at 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kingsville Community Federal Credit Union located at 605 East Caesar. Access to the VITA program will be provided by parking and using the south entrance to the credit union facility.

IRS certified VITA Volunteers will preparer the returns. The returns will be submitted to IRS electronically, and reviewed and processed by IRS, usually within 12 business days.

Through the Kingsville Community FCU VITA program, low and moderate income tax payers can take advantage of the Earned Income Tax credit (EITC) program of the Internal Revenue Service. EITC is a credit an eligible worker can claim when he or she files a federal income tax return. It can mean paying less tax - no tax - or even getting a refund.

The latest available tax return information from IRS for Kleberg County is for tax year 2007. According to this data:

A total of $ 8,205,539 came into our local economy as a result of 3,735 tax returns filed that included the earned income tax credit.

However, not everyone who qualifies for an EITC files a tax return that requests the earned income tax credit.

IRS estimates that at least 25% of tax returns filed each year are from tax payers qualified to receive the EITC but who failed to request the earned income tax credit.

Taxpayers must bring the following items to the VITA site to have their income tax returns prepared at no cost to the taxpayer:

Proof of identification

Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration

Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

Current year’s tax package if you received one

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 returns if available

Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit

Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider’s tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security Number or the provider’s 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.The VITA program collaborating partners seek to provide a no cost means to Kleberg County taxpayers for tax preparation.