For the Miami Valley Today

TROY — Partner’s in Hope’s (PIH) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax preparation. Although many free tax preparation services have closed in the past due to COVID, PIH is committed to remain open to serve the community.

Thanks to PIH volunteers and Edison Community College students, PIH began preparing taxes on Feb. 1. Packets are available on the front porch of the PIH office. There will be a checklist of needed documents. When you have everything needed, return documents in the envelope to PIH. No appointment is needed. For your convenience, there is a mail slot on the front door for after-hours drop-off. Taxes will be prepared in the order that they are received, first come, first served at no cost to the tax-payer.

“This is a hands-on learning experience for the students assisting with the tax preparations. Having this volunteer experience at an organization like Partner’s in Hope provides valuable awareness of the needs of low income and under resourced individuals and families in the community. It also provides an understanding of how a non-profit operates, and how mutual respect, trust and confidentiality are essential to building relationships with our clients” said Tina Budde, volunteer recruiter, PIH.

The IRS’s VITA offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. These are persons who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities, elderly those who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

VITA/TCE services are not only free, they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. All VITA/TCE volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA/TCE site prior to filing.

PIH is a non-profit organization that has served the community since 1990. Throughout its 31-year history, PIH has offered programs of relief, education, and development to the community. Programs and services are provided to individuals in the Troy/Miami County area throughout the year. Their vision and mission: “WE EXIST TO OFFER HOPE … Through our faith as children of God, we build positive relationships and develop partnerships to create an impact on our community.”

If you would like to support PIH programs like the Tax Clinic, you may donate on their website, or send to Partners in Hope, 180 E. Race St., Troy, OH 45373. Partners in Hope, Troy, OH is part of the Kroger Community Rewards and Amazon Smile programs. For more information about services offered at PIH or volunteer opportunities, please call 937-335-0448, visit http://www.partnersinhopeinc.org/ or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/partnersinhope1/.