Politics & Government

Free Tax Preparation for Fairfax County Residents Making Less Than $52,000—No Lie

Yes it's legit with many tax preparation locations in Fairfax County.

A little-known nationwide program provides in-person, free tax filing for singles and families making less than $52,000 a year. 

Volunteers working with the program VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) which is offered through the IRS have been offering their services for more than 40 years, said Mary Eure, a Virginia-based VITA volunteer recruiter and trainer. 

There are some 350 VITA volunteers ready and waiting to prepare free tax returns for those who need their services, she added. 

According to Census data, there may be as many as 75,000 households in Fairfax County that qualify, but many of them do not take advantage of the cost-free service, Eure said. 

VITA volunteers in Fairfax County prepared 5,200 free returns in 2013. 
"The volunteers said, 'Please send us more clients' ... they want to help more people," she said. "Everybody thinks Fairfax is a rich county—and it is—but there are many households who struggle to make ends meet." 

People who can benefit from the program do not take advantage of the service because they don't know about it. Those who do know and who qualify may believe it is a subpar tax preparation service or, they believe there's a catch. 

VITA workers are highly-qualified and each return is double checked, Eure said. 

"I'm very confident in their quality of work," she said. 

Many free tax preparation locations in Reston, Alexandria, Annandale and Woodbridge opened on Jan. 25.  Many more sites will open to customers on Feb. 1. 

Get a full list locations, addresses and hours in Northern Virginia here at this link or at nvacash.org under locations. 

Nearby locations include:

Reston:

FFX SkillSource Center-Reston
11484 Washington Plaza W., 20190
Tues. 3:30-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 -April 12.

Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
1516 Moorings Dr., 20190
Sun. 1-4 p.m.
Feb. 2 – April 6.

Herndon:


Neighborhood Resource Center
1086 Elden St., 20170
Wed. 6-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Feb. 1 – April 12.

Chantilly:


Chantilly Library
4000 Stringfellow Rd., 20151
Thurs. 6-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 – April 12.

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