Time Sensitive For Immediate Release

January 16, 2016

Free Income Tax Preparation in Will County
The Will County Low Income Tax Assistance Coalition (LITAC) is providing free federal and state
income tax preparation services this filing season. This service is open to individuals and families
earning up to $54,000 in 2015. Qualified participants will be able to have their federal and state income
tax returns filed electronically at no cost.
Services will be provided on a first come, first served basis at the following locations:

February 10 and February 17 Joliet Junior College Romeoville Campus, 1125 West
Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL from 5pm to 8pm

January 23 through April 16 Spanish Community Center, 309 N. Eastern Ave., Joliet, IL as
follows: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm to 8:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am to 1:00pm

The Will County LITAC partners with the IRS and sponsors free tax preparation services through the
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. All volunteer preparers are certified in tax
preparation through the IRS to provide free and accurate return preparation for qualified taxpayers in the
community.
Those who cannot attend the sessions at Joliet Junior College or Spanish Community Center are invited
to
schedule an appointment with any of LITACs other VITA sites:

Child Care Resource & Referral, located at 801 N. Larkin Ave #202, Joliet, IL (call
815.741.1163 ext. 253 to make an appointment)

Will County Center for Community Concerns, 2455 Glenwood Ave., Joliet, IL 60435 (call
815.722.0722 ext. 271 to make an appointment)

Items you need to bring to the VITA/TCE sites to have your tax returns prepared:

Proof of identification (picture ID);

Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number
verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration (we are unable to prepare returns
without this information);
Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return;
Wage and earning statement(s) including: Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all
employers;
Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099);
A copy of last years federal and state returns if available;
Proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank
check;

Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's
Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number) if
appropriate;
Copy of your most recent property tax bill, if applicable;
If you have purchased health insurance from the marketplace, Form 1095-A
To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to
sign the required forms.

Why is free income tax preparation necessary for our community? Andrew VanSingel, Director of the
Low Income Tax Clinic at Prairie State Legal Services and Chair of Will County LITAC, states that over
two-thirds of taxpayers use a paid preparer, and pay $200 on average to have their returns prepared, which
does not account for any additional fees. By providing a free alternative, the Will County LITAC allows
taxpayers to claim the credits they are entitled to receive and keep more of their refunds in their pocket.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one such credit. For the upcoming filing season, the EITC
ranges from $503 for people without children to a maximum of $6,242 for taxpayers with three or more
qualifying children. In 2014, over 1 million taxpayers in Illinois claimed the EITC for a total of $2.5
billion. Nationwide, 27.5 million taxpayers claimed the EITC for a total of $66.7 billion.
The IRS estimates that one-third of the EITC-eligible population changes annually as taxpayers financial,
marital, and parental status change. The IRS also estimates that one of every five taxpayers do not claim
the EITC either because taxpayers do not claim the credit on their return, or they do not file a return at all.
The Will County Low Income Tax Assistance Coalition (LITAC) is committed to help low and
moderate income individuals and families in Will County achieve financial stability by providing free
income tax preparation and financial education. By partnering with commercial and non-profit agencies
in the community, the coalition is able to provide these services at no cost to the individuals and families
it serves.
Contact: Andrew VanSingel, 630.580.3315, avansingel@pslegal.org