United Way to offer free tax prep in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD – The United Way of Wapello County is offering free tax preparation service this year in Fairfield.

The organization announced that it is resuming the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in Fairfield after having to stop it years ago because of staffing. Peggy Fisher, the RSVP Director of United Way of Wapello County, said the group just finished its first week of the program, and that it will continue taking appointments through mid-March.

Jefferson County residents can schedule an appointment with a tax preparer at the Fairfield Community Center, 209 S. Court St., between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. For those who can’t make those times, the organization offers appointments at its Ottumwa office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

This free service is available to all ages and is intended for individuals or families with annual incomes under $59,000. To make an appointment, call the United Way of Wapello County at 641-682-1264.

Fisher said participants will be told what forms to bring with them to their appointment, and then once a certified advanced tax preparer has done the return, the participant will come back to review the paperwork and sign their name. Then, the United Way will file the tax return electronically.

Federal tax returns are due on April 15, and Iowa tax returns are due on April 30.

Fisher said a large number of people take advantage of this program every year, and that nearly 700 tax returns were filed through the United Way of Wapello County in 2023.

“It’s possible we’ll hit 1,000 returns this year since we’ll have returns from Fairfield as well,” she said. “We’d love it if that happened. We treat everybody who comes in with respect regardless of their situation, and we try very hard to help them.”

Fisher said she understands that nobody enjoys doing their taxes, and that’s why she’s happy the United Way can save residents from that annual headache, not to mention the expense.

“We’re sad when we find out someone paid $300 to have their taxes done and we could have done it free of charge,” Fisher said.

Some of the important documents that participants in this program should bring to their appointment include last year’s tax return, a government issued photo ID, their W-2 form, their bank account and routing numbers if they want their refund to be directly deposited, as well as the Social Security cards of the tax filers and dependents such as children in the household. If a couple is filing their tax return jointly, both parties must appear in person to sign the tax return before it can be electronically filed.

Fisher said these proof-of-identity requirements ensure that the United Way is processing the tax return for the right person.

“It prevents us from filing a tax return for someone other than the person we’re supposed to,” she said. “We do the best we can to get as much money back into the hands of our taxpayers and back into the local economy.”

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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