Residents of Las Cruces looking for some assistance with their tax returns have a fresh opportunity to get some free help, thanks to a collaboration between the Las Cruces Public Libraries and GECU. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, operating in partnership with the IRS, is set to offer IRS-certified volunteers to help the public navigate their tax conundrums at the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, located at 200 E. Picacho Ave.
The assistance kicked off with what's dubbed as Super Saturday on February 1, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, and will run through until April 14. According to the City of Las Cruces, regular hours for the VITA program are Mondays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with an exception for President’s Day on February 17, and Thursdays from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. However, due to limited space, it’s a first-come, first-served deal, which means timing is everything if you want to secure a spot with one of these altruistic number-crunchers.
To make the most of this free service, residents will need to come prepared with their ID, Social Security Card or ITIN, proof of direct deposit, and a copy of last year’s tax return. If applicable, they should also bring along their 1095-A form. Those with the marital status of married and filing jointly are required to bring their significant other along, with both parties' documents. College students should check ahead if they're claimed as dependents by their guardians. In a case where volunteer tax preparers' timeslots are saturated for the day, latecomers may be turned away.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of. The program does not cover tax returns for residents of Puerto Rico, foreign students, farm income or loss issues, foreign earned income, rental income, or the tax concerns of military personnel. Although this may leave some on the outside looking in, for many in the Las Cruces community, the VITA program offered at the Branigan Library could be an invaluable resource in sorting through the labyrinth of tax season.
