It’s about that time of year. Have you filed your taxes yet? If not, the IRS deadline for tax filing is Monday, April 15, 2024. If you are looking for a tax site to help you file taxes, look no further than Benefits in Action. We are a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax site operating under the umbrella of the Tax Help Colorado program. We will be in operation for tax filings until April 13, 2024. This article describes our tax program in detail and what you can do to take advantage of it. So, if you are interested in learning more, pay close attention to this article.
Benefits in Action is offering free tax assistance to low-income Coloradans as part of the VITA tax program. This means our volunteers and staff members provide no cost tax filing assistance to those that meet the VITA program requirements. Those requirements include having a gross household income of less than $64,000 a year, not having a business that operates at a net loss, and not having more than $35,000 in business expenses. They also include not claiming certain credits and deductions such as the Health Coverage Tax Credit. However, rest assured that we can prepare most tax filings that come our way this tax season.
If you qualify for the VITA tax program, you can contact Benefits in Action at 720-221-8354 or via email at info@benefitsinaction.org. Our intake coordinators can schedule an appointment for you and discuss the documents you will need at the time of the appointment. These documents include, but are not limited to, your valid photo ID, your social security card, the social security card for everyone in your tax household, and documentation proving your income and expenses. This documentation includes W-2s, 1099s, social security statements, proof of interest, dividend or retirement income, and any expenses you intend to claim or itemize.
We are scheduling appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm until Thursday, April 11, 2024. We are also scheduling appointments on Saturdays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm until Saturday, April 13, 2024.
Colorado is also issuing a TABOR refund this year. For those of you who don’t know, TABOR stands for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. TABOR is part of the Colorado Constitution and states that when state revenues exceed state expenses, most of the difference must be refunded to the taxpayer. Most taxpayers will receive an $800 TABOR refund this year. Married couples will receive a $1,600 refund. This refund is available to anyone who files Colorado taxes prior to April 15, 2024, so long as they don’t owe money to the State of Colorado.
Does this information make you interested in filing your taxes? If so, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, identify the documents you will need to bring with you when seeking tax assistance and make sure you bring them to your tax site. Second, if you are married and filing jointly, make sure that both you and your spouse come to the tax site, as both of you will need to sign important documents, including the actual tax return. Finally, please do not wait until the last minute to start your taxes. The sooner you file taxes, the better.
Thank you for reading, and good luck this tax season. For more information, you can also call Benefits in Action at 720-221-8354 or email us at info@benefitsinaction.org. We are happy to help you with your tax-related needs.
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