25
s
c
t en
Serving the mid valley & upper lackawanna valley
Around Town
School News
What’s going on with your favorite student Page 9
Helen’s Kitchen
What’s going on with your favorite student Page 11
Community Calendar
Plan some fun for the family this weekend Page 17
Bowling Scores
See who the top players were this week Page 23
times-shamrock community newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 348-9185 Fax: (570) 207-3448 E-mail: advantage@ timesshamrock.com
www.thevalleyadvantage.com
Minimizing the Burden
ON THE INSIDE The lastest happenings in our area Page 2
February 6, 2015
Tax time is here and the U of S can help
by Christopher Cornell ADVANTAGE EDITOR
Tax time can be, well, taxing, but never fear, help is coming. Individuals, families and senior citizens in the Advantage area, with a household income of less than $51,000 last year, can receive assistance in completing and filing their federal, state and local tax returns through the University of Scranton’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. There is no charge for this service. In the past few years this program has become very popular, and many of the appointment slots at at the Valley Community Library, 739 River St. in Peckville are already filled. However, at press time, there were still available slots on Wednesday, March 11, 3-7 p.m.; and Tuesday, March 24, 3-7 p.m. Appointments are available at the Carbondale Senior Community Center, 66 N. Church St., Friday, Feb. 6, 2-6 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 14. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 27, noon to 3 p.m.; and Friday, March 27, 2-6 p.m. Appointments are also available in Clarks Summit, Hawley, Moscow and Taylor. Walk-in, no-appointment-required tax service is also available at the University of Scranton’s Brennan Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays, noon to 6 p.m. and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ( No tax preparation service is offered at the University of Scranton from March 12-23. The regular schedule resumes on March 24.) A “Super Sunday” is scheduled to closeout the tax season at Brennan Hall on March 29 with appointments available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In the last six years, VITA program volunteers have prepared nearly 11,000 tax returns with more than $1 million in fee savings for the tax clients, $2 million in earned income tax credit (EITC) dollars returned to the community and $7 million in federal income tax refunds infusing the local economy and family budgets. “Far too many hard-working families in our
TS_CNG/ADVANTAGE/PAGES [A01] | 02/05/15
09:18 | CORNELLCHR
Don’t get buried in tax forms! The University of Scranton’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program can help.
community are walking a financial tightrope,” noted Gary Drapek, president of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. “The VITA program not only helps them access the tax credits for which they’re eligible but also helps save the money that would have been spent on sometimes costly preparation fees. Those funds then go right back into the family’s savings or toward day-to-day expenses,” he noted. Through the VITA program, individuals and families with a household income less than $51,000 last year can save an average of $200 by having their taxes prepared at no cost and with none of the fees and interest charges associated with such products as refund anticipation loans and some costly tax preparation services. In addition, students and IRS certified volunteers serving as tax preparers help hundreds of people each year receive every tax benefit available to them such as the earned income tax credit (EITC) and the child tax credit. This year, the volunteers and students can
also help tax clients navigate through the changes dictated by the Affordable Care Act. “The VITA program directly helps local families and individuals not only get by, but potentially get ahead and enjoy a greater level of financial stability,” Drapek said. Tax clients need to bring: a valid photo ID, all W2 forms; 1099 documents (interest, dividends, pensions); Social Security numbers or individual tax identification numbers (ITIN) for yourself and all dependents including children; completed W-7 documents as appropriate; last year’s return (optional, but helpful); any records relating to income and expenses; personal bank account information (for direct deposit in bank account with electronic filing); real estate tax receipts (if applicable) and any information pertaining to health insurance coverage for themselves and anyone on the tax return in 2014. For a complete schedule, or to schedule an appointment online, visit uwlc.net. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 570504-0614 or email abassani@uwlc.net.