TSC to host VITA free tax preparation service

Texas Southmost College will offer free tax preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for anyone with an annual income of $54,000 or less at the ITEC Center from Jan. 23 to April 18.

Texas Southmost College (TSC), in collaboration with the United Way of Southern Cameron County, will offer free tax preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for anyone with an annual income of $54,000 or less at the TSC ITEC Center from Jan. 23 to April 18.

The TSC ITEC Center is located at 301 Mexico Blvd. and the VITA office is located in Room F-6.

The VITA hours of operation at the TSC site are Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. From March 4 through April 8, Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to noon. The TSC VITA site is by appointment only.

“TSC has been a driving force in the coalition and it’s been a really great community partnership with a huge impact,” United Way Financial Stability Coordinator Keren Arista said. “This program helps save Cameron County residents about $1 million in tax preparation fees per year and has helped get about $9 million in tax refunds.”

Beginning on Jan. 28, TSC student volunteers from the college’s Business Information Technology Department will offer services every Saturday through April 15, from 9 a.m. to noon.

“Providing free tax assistance is a great way for our students to get hands-on experience that benefits the community,” TSC Business Management and Technology Instructor Maggie Solis said. “It can get expensive to prepare your taxes, but through the VITA program we can help alleviate that expense for some of the people in our community by providing this free assistance.”

VITA volunteers are trained and certified to provide assistance in preparing tax returns and help tax payers take advantage of tax credits.

TSC’s VITA program site is part of a coalition of organizations led by the United Way of Southern Cameron County, with additional sites around county.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (956) 295-3761.

About Texas Southmost College
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. Recently selected as a Bright Spot by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, TSC offers 55 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.