Thursday, February 23, 2012 - Local Volunteers Offer Free Tax Prep Services In St. Lucie County

It is that time again. Tax season is here and it is time to prepare those returns. Several community organizations have provided their space and computers to allow the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to offer free preparation service to local residents. The VITA sites offer free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income households making less than $59,000 per year.

Tax preparers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service and, depending on the return, taxpayers can save hundreds of dollars through credits and not having the expense of a paid preparer.

St. Lucie County Community Services partners with Mustard Seed Ministries to offer sites in Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce. The City of Port St. Lucie sponsors a site at the Community Center and Miracle Prayer Temple also provide the service.

"This type of service is critical to helping our residents,” said Beth Ryder, director of St. Lucie County’s Housing and Community Services. “These free services benefit not just individual taxpayers, but also the entire County. VITA helps more taxpayers receive all the tax benefits for which they are eligible. Studies show that for every dollar returned to working families through other tax credits, $1.50 in economic activity is generated.”

“This service provides low- to moderate-income residents the advantage of having taxes done professionally without a cost,” added Stacy Malinowski with Mustard Seed. “We have just opened Saturday hours for the Fort Pierce location to help those that cannot come during the week.”

VITA sites are available at the following locations in St. Lucie County:

• Miracle Prayer Temple, 3215 Avenue Q, Fort Pierce: 772-465-4646. Hours: Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• Mustard Seed Ministries, 3130 S. US 1, Fort Pierce: 772-465-6021. Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon.
• Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 Airoso Blvd., Port St. Lucie: 772-344-4302. Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Mustard Seed Ministries, 8311 S. US 1, Port St. Lucie: 772-340-1406. Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For information on a location near you, call 211.