South Carolina SC State University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax assistance to qualifying individuals, gets underway during the month of February.
Through the VITA program, trained community volunteers help with special credits, such as earned income tax credit, child tax credit and credit for the elderly and disabled.
In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, SC State’s VITA program offers electronic filing (e-filing).  Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper.  This year’s VITA sessions will be held on the following Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Belcher Hall 3rd floor computer lab:  Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 10, March 24 and April 7, 2012.
Qualified individuals, or those who receive an income of $50,000 or lower and are unable to prepare their own tax returns, must bring the following items to the site to have their tax return completed:
Proof of identification
Social security cards for you, your spouse and dependents, and/or a social security number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration
Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and dependents
Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN
Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G and 1099-R from all employers
Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number (the provider’s social security number or the provider’s business employer identification number)
To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
For more information on SC State University’s VITA program, contact Anthony Masino, site coordinator,   at (803) 536-8215 or via email at amasino@scsu.edu.
Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., with a student population of some 4,500, South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.