Need help filing tax returns? These programs offer free assistance in Pennsylvania
Spring is nearly here, and with it comes added pressure to file your taxes before they’re due Tuesday, April 18.
Taxes can be an annual nuisance for millions of Americans and Pennsylvanians alike. Filings must take just about every aspect of your life into account, including your job status, your income and your family. More importantly, accurate filings are the best chance to ensure you’ll see a full tax return later in the year.
Here’s where you can find tax preparation assistance in Centre County and beyond.
Centre Tax Agency
Free tax assistance is available locally through Centre Tax Agency. The organization is the designated collector for local earned income tax across Centre County’s Tax Collection District, which covers 31 municipalities across the Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Penns Valley and State College-area school districts.
While Centre Tax Agency does not file taxes for individuals, it does work to answer their questions and provide general assistance for local returns only. Those who need help are encouraged to visit the agency’s website, call 814-278-4709 or email centretaxagency@statecollegepa.us.
Centre Tax Agency also welcomes walk-ins for tax assistance at its office on the first floor of the State College Municipal Building, located at 243 S. Allen St. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
The agency will offer appointments outside of regular office hours from 4:30 to 7 p.m. April 6 and between April 12-14 and 17-18. While anyone is welcome, those who plan on arriving during extended hours are asked to call the office at 814-278-4709 to reserve a time.
“Anyone who wants to walk in during our regular office hours can come in and sit down with someone to receive help with their local tax returns,” said Valerie Reed, one of the agency’s tax specialists. “Those [extended hours] are another way we can serve taxpayers who aren’t able to come in during the normal workday.”
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program serves filers across Pennsylvania by offering free, certified tax help and electronic filing for individuals and families whose annual household income falls below approximately $65,000.
To reserve an appointment, call 814-355-6816 and select option No. 1. Most VITA locations are open only on certain days, and each maintains its own set of operating hours.
You can call 888-227-7669 or use an online database to find a VITA site near you. The following locations are available for eligible filers in Centre County:
Church of the Good Shepherd in Bellefonte (Feb. 1 through Dec. 31, appointment required)
Moshannon Valley YMCA in Philipsburg (Feb. 7 through April 11, appointment required)
Calvary Baptist Church in Boalsburg (Feb. 1 through April 12, appointment required)
Penns Valley Senior Center in Madisonburg (Feb. 2 through April 13, appointment required)
Penn State’s Boucke Building, Room 325 (Feb. 1 through April 25, appointment required. This location will close between March 4 and 12 to accommodate Penn State’s spring break.)
When you arrive for your VITA appointment, you won’t come into contact with volunteers preparing returns, according to a release. Instead, you’ll wait in a designated waiting area until your returns are completed.
Be sure to bring photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a state or school ID card. You’ll also need to show Social Security cards and birth dates for you, your spouse and any dependents you may have. Both spouses are encouraged to attend when a married couple files a joint tax return.
You’ll also need to bring income documents, such as your W-2 and 1099 forms, plus copies of last year’s federal and state tax returns if they’re available.
Tax Counseling for the Elderly
This program offers free help for tax filers ages 60 and older. It also offers specialized help that covers pension and retirement-related topics.
To find a TCE site in your area, use the program’s online tool or call 800-906-9887.
AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program
An AARP membership isn’t required to take advantage of this program, which offers tax preparation assistance for all ages and income levels. However, the program does place a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 with a low or moderate income, according to its website.
You can find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide center through an online locator. While no locations are listed for the State College area, there’s one in Lock Haven and two in Cassville, the program’s website says. Each location offers its own hours and services.
Additional federal, state tax resources
On the federal level, the Internal Revenue Service offers an online tool to help connect Americans with free filing options. Enter your specific information, including your income and the number of dependents you’re filing with, to narrow the options.
Those with adjusted gross incomes of $73,000 or less can file federal returns for free through the IRS.
For more information on filing taxes in the Keystone State, head to revenue-pa.custhelp.com to find the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s website dedicated to answering frequently asked questions, including options to get an extension for filing your returns this year.
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