Good news for all of you who need help preparing your basic personal income tax returns!

MATC accounting students, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs, are offering free assistance to those taxpayers with a family income of LESS than $50,000.

Warren Yan, a volunteer at the Downtown Milwaukee campus, stressed; “VITA is available to assist the whole community, not just the students; and all services are free of charge.”

The FREE program is being offered at both the Oak Creek and Downtown Milwaukee campuses.

The program, which has been offered for the last 30 years at Oak Creek and 10 years at the Downtown Milwaukee campuses, also heightens awareness of Wisconsin’s Homestead Credit and the federal Earned Income Credit.

These tax breaks are often overlooked by low-income working people who are raising children.

“They’re just so helpful,” commented Mrs. Letitia Johnson, who has taken advantage of the program for the last five years. “I’ve become a repeat customer,” she added.

All returns are e-filed to ensure speed and accuracy.

Those attending should bring the following:

• Wage and earnings statements (W-2 forms)

• Bank interest statements (1099 forms)

• A copy of last year’s return

• Photo identification

• Receipts for property taxes paid

• Certificate for rent paid (singed by landlord)

• Social Security cards for you, your spouse and dependents (to be listed on your return)

• Social Security number or tax ID number for providers of child care

• Other relevant information about earnings and expenses

• Bank routing number and account number (a cancelled check works best to ensure correct deposit information.)

Those filing a joint return must BOTH be present at preparation time, since both spouses must sign the joint return.

Dates and hours are as follows:

Downtown Milwaukee Campus – in the VITA office located in the Welcome Center

Jan. 28 – April 14

(closed April 7 & 10)

Tuesdays from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Saturdays from10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The first 20 clients on Tuesday and the first 35 on Saturday will receive assistance. It is suggested that you arrive 30 minutes before the session begins. A self service computer kiosk will also be available.

Oak Creek Campus –

in Room A102, Feb. 1 – April 4

Wednesdays from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturdays from 9:00 p.m. – Noon.

The first 25 clients will be assisted.

Student Volunteers are trained by the IRS and are supervised by MATC instructors.

For more information, please contact :

Jim Benedum, (414) 571-4757 at the Oak Creek Campus.

Bobbie Sherrod, (414) 297-8417 at the Downtown Campus.