Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Making Tax Time Less Stressful

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free income tax preparation services for individuals and families with low or moderate incomes.

2022 Income Tax Season

Due to the continued threat of Covid-19 and out of an abundance of caution, we will continue preparing income tax returns using the Drop Off method where you will bring your tax documents to our 540 Columbia Street locations and a VITA site and an IRS-certified tax preparer will complete your taxes and call you when they are ready. While we will not schedule appointments for in-person tax preparation, you must still call us at (518) 828-4611 to be screened for eligibility and receive your VITA Intake and Interview forms.

More About Vita

Tax season can be very stressful for those who are struggling.  Finding someone to complete and file taxes reliably, at a fair cost, can be hard.

COI wants to make it as easy as possible for households with low incomes to file their tax returns. That is why we offer the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. 

VITA volunteers are trained to complete accurate tax returns, helping customers access valuable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. The VITA program can complete both Federal and State tax returns and is able to electronically file most returns for a faster refund.

To be eligible for COI VITA services, this year you must:

• Have previously used COI VITA services in either 2019 or 2020

• Have a household income of less than $58,000 in 2021

• Have worked in New York State

• Have not received income from rental property

• Have not received military pay

• Have not sold a house, stocks, bonds or other financial assets in 2020 or 2021

• And, if you are self-employed, but don’t have any employees, inventory, depreciation or business expenses over $5,000

Documents that are needed to prepare a complete and accurate return:

• Proof of identification (photo ID) for people who will be signing the return

• Social Security cards for you, your spouse and all dependents 

• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter may be substituted for you, your spouse and your dependents if you do not have a Social Security number

• Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN

• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers, Social Security, Unemployment or other sources of income

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

• For direct deposit of refunds - proof of bank account routing and account numbers for such as a blank check or account statement

• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number

• Forms 1095-A if you had health coverage through the NYS Market Place

• Letter 6419 to provide the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments that were disbursed to you during 2021

• Notice 1444: Shows the first Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2020

• Notice 1444-B: Shows the second Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2020

• Notice 1444-C: Shows the third Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2021

• Letter 6475: In early 2022, the IRS will send this letter confirming the total amount of the third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments you received for tax year 2021

Contact Us

VITA services will be available starting on February 7, 2022. If you have questions on the VITA program or about your previous years filing with us, please contact our offices.

Phone: (518) 828-4611

Not eligible for our free VITA Program?  Ready to file your tax returns for free and on your own? Try www.myfreetaxes.com.

MyFreeTaxes is a free, safe, and easy way for individuals and households to file their federal and up to three state taxes for free. United Way partners with the IRS and Taxslayer to provide its online tax filing software to help you easily and accurately file your taxes for free from your smartphone or computer. There are no income restrictions to use MyFreeTaxes.

If you have all of your tax documents, you can begin preparing your return via MyFreeTaxes starting on January 18, 2022. You can begin submitting your returns to the IRS on January 24, 2022. Their Helpline services will also begin on January 24.