Free help available for filing tax return

Volunteers for VITA, the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, will be offering free tax preparation to low-income and senior Staten Islanders at a number of locations in the upcoming weeks.

The program offers assistance to people who are 60 and older, and to people who have an income of approximately $49,000 or less. Military personnel and their families also receive free tax preparation services.

Taxpayers should bring with them proof of identification, including a Social Security card; wage and earnings statements (W-2 Form) from all employers, interest statements from banks, a copy of last year's tax return, if available, and other relevant information about income and expenses.

If applicable, a person should also bring proof of foreign status if applying for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Volunteers have completed training to be tax preparers, including an IRS-certified online training and exam.

The free tax preparation services will be held at the following dates and locations:

Oakwood Heights Community Church, 345 Guyon Ave. tomorrow through April 12 on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Richmond Town Public Library, 200 Clarke Ave. Feb. 7 through April 18 on Mondays from noon to 3 p.m.

Dongan Hills Public Library, 1617 Richmond Rd., Feb. 7 through April 18 on Mondays from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 3 through April 14 on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Todt Hill-Westerleigh Public Library, 2550 Victory Blvd. Feb 7 through April 18 on Mondays (suspended on Feb. 14) from noon to 3 p.m.

Information from the Staten Island Advance: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/free_help_available_for_filing.html