A new program, implemented through the efforts of Tusculum College, will provide free tax preparation services in Greene and surrounding counties. The IRS-certified tax preparation program will provide three locations in the region where trained volunteers will be available to assist members of the public with the preparation of their tax returns.
Locations will include: Monday nights at Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union ’s community room in Gray, Thursdays at Tusculum and Saturdays at Greeneville Power and Light, starting Jan. 30.
The ACFCU has been a long-time partner with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in the area.
Led by Dr. Harold Branstrator, associate professor of management at Tusculum College, the VITA program offers a free alternative to the expensive services of a paid tax professional. The volunteers of the VITA program have completed roughly 1,000 returns annually since 2014, often saving clients $200 or more that they would have spent on payments for alternative, fee-based, services.
Taxpayers eligible for VITA services include: individuals with annual incomes of less than $54,000, individuals over 55 years of age, individuals diagnosed with a physical disability and non English-speaking citizens.
Appointments are required. Sites and days of operation include:
Mondays: ACFCU, 5034 Bobby Hicks Highway, Gray, TN 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.;
Thursdays: Tusculum College, 5:30-8:30 p.m.;
Saturdays: Greeneville Power and Light Boardroom, 110 N. College St., Greeneville, TN 9 a.m. – noon.
To schedule an appointment, call (800) 378-3778 and wait for the operator, or register online at http://www.tusculum.edu/vita.
