University of Houston-Victoria offers tax assistance for those in need
Once more, as the holiday and New Year’s celebrations have concluded, Americans face the arrival of tax season, prompting individuals across the country to delve into the intricate landscape of their financial documentation.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the agency anticipates more than 146 million individual tax returns from the previous year to be filed for this season and has set a deadline of April 15, 2024.
With that in mind, the University of Houston-Victoria is bringing back the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to help individuals and families in Victoria and Katy who need assistance to prepare and file their federal income tax returns.
The program, offered in partnership with the IRS, will be open for appointments and walk-in services from Feb. 7 to April 13.
The first location will be set up in room 216 inside UHV University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St.
The second location will be in Room 209 at UHV Katy, 22400 Grand Circle Blvd.
Operating hours for the locations will be Wednesdays from 5 to 6:40 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 3:30 p.m. The locations will be closed for spring break from March 9 to 16.
Individuals and families with an annual income of $64,000 or less qualify for tax assistance services. For appointments or inquiries, contact Yingxu Kuang at (281) 396-3801 or freetaxhelp@uhv.edu.
The program, overseen by IRS-certified volunteers, is open to students, faculty, staff and the public, said Kuang, UHV associate professor of accounting and coordinator of the program.
Initiated in 2021, the program was initially virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuang said. Last year, the center completed more than 100 tax returns for those in the Greater Houston and Victoria Crossroads areas, she said.
“If you’re qualified, come to our sites and get your free tax return service,” Kuang said. “If you’re doing it on your own and need assistance, you can always seek us for help.”
Documents to bring to your walk-in or appointment may include, but are not limited to your 2022 tax return, identification (driver’s license or social security card), W-2 form, bank routing information for direct deposit and forms that designate interest or dividend statements, Social Security income, documentation of donations made to U.S. charities and forms for interest or property taxes. Self-employed individuals should have their income statements ready. Both spouses’ presence is required to sign the necessary e-filing forms if they are planning to file a joint return. A complete detailed list of services provided by the VITA program can be found at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3676bsp.pdf.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.