Latino Resource Center

Tax Programs

The Latino Resource Center has been assisting taxpayers since 2002. Currently, two programs are offered to help people file their returns and understand their rights and responsibilities as US taxpayers.

VITA: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Free Tax Return Preparation
for Qualifying Taxpayers

The Latino Resource Center has worked with the Teton County Library and the IRS since 2004 to offer FREE TAX RETURN PREPARATION to qualifying taxpayers in the community. Since that time, over 800 taxpayers have utilized the service and hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds has been received by low income taxpayers in Teton County.

Trained volunteers assist taxpayers from February through mid-April using computers, software and materials provided by the IRS. Participants benefit from the volunteers expertise and have the option of electronically filing their returns.

This year’s VITA program schedule

   WEDNESDAYS from 5:30 - 8 PM
   Beginning February 6 ending April 9
   The ORDWAY AUDITORIUM of the Teton County Library    (125 Virginian Lane)

.QUALIFICATIONS

Taxpayers must qualify for the program based on family size and income and are required to bring certain documents with them

Required items for every taxpayer

Valid Picture ID
Current W2 Forms (didn’t receive your W2 forms?)Social Security or ITIN cards for all people listed on the return (Don’t have an Social Security Number or ITIN? here's a link in English http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html or Spanish http://www.irs.gov/espanol/article/0,,id=98974,00.html
Dates of birth for all people listed on the return
Copy of previous year’s return (if available)

Required items for some taxpayers

Student loan or tuition statements
Childcare cost statements
Home mortgage loan payments
Receipts of moving expenses
Interest and dividend statements from banks
Bank account number and bank’s routing number (for direct deposit)

INCOME/FAMILY SIZE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Size of Family	Income Limit
1	$25,000
2	$32,000
3	$38,000
4	$45,000
5	$52,000

TETON COUNTY LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC (LITC)

The Latino Resource Center’s LITC program operates year round and serves two purposes. The first is to offer materials, forums and one-on-one education to ESL Taxpayers (English as a second language) to educate them about their rights and responsibilities as US taxpayers. The second purpose is to assist ESL taxpayers in resolving tax problems by working closely with the Taxpayer Advocate’s office in Cheyenne, WY. This program is funded by a grant from the IRS and matching contributions.

Volunteer Opportunities

Both the VITA and the LITC programs rely on volunteer effort to succeed. Interested volunteers need not have experience in tax issues since a training session with instructional materials is provided. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Luis Fernandez-Gates at lfg -latinocenter@qwest.net, or by calling 734-0333.

VITA STATISTICS

The VITA program has assisted over 800 tax payers since its inception in 2004

IRS trained volunteers have helped participants receive nearly $650,000 in refunds, money that directly benefits low income taxpayers and the economy of Teton County.

While the VITA program is open to any qualifying taxpayer in Teton County, over 70% of participants are Latino