Question: Filing annual income tax returns is no fun, and it costs money to have someone else do the job. Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, however, provides a free tax preparation service. What is this program?
PROFILE
Lori Lau
>> Organization: Goodwill Industries of Hawaii
>> Title: Director of workforce development
>> Age: 34
>> Education: University of Hawaii, bachelor’s in psychology
>> Email: info@higoodwill.org
>> Website: higoodwill.org
>> Phone: 836-0313 |
Answer: Goodwill Hawaii operates an Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Through the VITA program, Goodwill has seven tax clinic locations statewide to provide eligible tax filers with free tax preparation assistance.
Q: Who can qualify for the free help?
A: Generally, Goodwill’s free tax clinics are available to individuals and households that earned $53,000 or less in 2014,and are not home or business owners.
Q: Why is the income limit $53,000?
A: The IRS sets the income limit for the VITA program. The $53,000 income limit ensures the free tax clinics are accessed by low- to moderate-income households that might benefit the most from the free tax services and financial literacy.
Q: Are there any other restrictions or qualifications?
A: There may be other reasons why a tax filer would not be able to use the tax clinics. Goodwill encourages anyone with specific questions about their tax return or eligibility to call, or visit us during tax clinic business hours with your tax documents. We can review your information with you and answer any questions you may have. If you bring all of your tax documents and your ID and Social Security card to the tax clinic, we may even be able to complete your tax return while you’re there.
Q: How long has Goodwill been offering VITA? Where and how did it start?
A: We are proud to say this is Goodwill Hawaii’s 11th season providing free tax preparation services. We started with wanting to provide free tax preparation services to our employees and program participants. On an annual basis, Goodwill programs provide services to approximately 15,000 people statewide. Goodwill’s mission is to help people find jobs and increase self-sufficiency.
We knew that providing free tax preparation services would be a great benefit to working individuals and families.
Q: Who prepares the tax returns under the program?
A: We have a great team of certified volunteer tax preparers. Each preparer must undergo mandatory trainings and certifications to volunteer at Goodwill’s tax clinics.
Q: How many preparers do you have this year? How does that compare with past years?
A: We have over 90 volunteers assisting with the tax clinic this season, which is a little more than last year. Our volunteers are both from Goodwill and the community. We are fortunate to have great partnerships with organizations like Windward Community College and Bank of Hawaii, and love working with their volunteers.
Q: Do you recruit volunteers every year? Is there a rough number of new volunteers you need every year?
A: We do recruit volunteers every year and usually gain around 30 first-time volunteers. New volunteers are welcome to join us so we can continue to provide this great service to the community.
Q: What is the time commitment for volunteers?
A: This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity. Volunteers sign up for as many or as few shifts as they are able.
Q: About how many tax filings do you expect to assist with this year?
A: The tax clinic continues to grow year after year. This year we expect to assist 1,700 tax filers.
Q: Is there still time for someone who wants assistance to get it through VITA?
A: Absolutely. Make your appointment today; go online to our website, higoodwill.org; or give us a call.
Q: Do interested taxpayers need to make an appointment for assistance?
A: We recommend an appointment to ensure a volunteer tax preparer will be available to complete your return; however, our Honolulu, Kapolei, and Kaneohe tax clinics also welcome walk-ins.
