VITA program offers free tax preparation

As your W-2s roll in this year, the clock is ticking down to file your taxes and you may qualify for free tax preparation.

The volunteer income tax assistance, or VITA Program, offers free tax prep and electronic filing for individuals and families who make $56,000 or less a year. Volunteers are IRS trained and certified.

Lee Ann Kendrick with the Jackson County Civic Action Committee says filing through the VITA program has many benefits. “So far this year, just in the last week since tax season opened, we’ve done almost 300 tax returns. So you can imagine the millions of dollars that we’re saving people across the country. But here on the Coast, we’re able to bring all that money back into our community. So if you don’t have to spend $200 to get your taxes done, you can spend that in the local economy right? Especially Mardi Gras time.”

Kendrick says they also do e-files so clients are able to get their returns just as quick as they would anywhere else.

They have offices in Jackson, Harrison, and George counties.