United Way of Steele County offers tax filing help
Tyler Borst is a VITA volunteer and treasurer of the United Way’s Board of Directors. United Way offers tax filing assistance for area seniors. Borst also works at Federated Insurance in Owatonna. Submitted photo
Although the service is offered to all households with an income less than $89,000, United Way of Steele County’s tax preparation assistance can be an extra help to many senior citizens.
The free tax assistance is provided by certified volunteers, United Way of Steele County President Annette Duncan said, because the organization is a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site funded by an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation services for the underserved.
Last year, Duncan said, the volunteers completed over 700 returns saving over $1,000,000 between filing fees saved and refunds received.
Anyone, even those outside Steele County, can register for the service.
The volunteers can help with federal (individual) income taxes, Minnesota state (individual) income taxes, the Minnesota Property Tax Homestead Credit Refund, and the Minnesota Renter’s Property Tax Refund.
In person visits are by appointment only and are typically scheduled for one hour, although simple filings may not take the full hour. An appointment can be scheduled by calling the office at 507-455-1180. Registration will be completed over the phone before setting up the appointment.
For those who wish to drop off their tax documentation documents there are three drop-off sites in Steele, Freeborn, and Rice counties. When dropping off documentation, be prepared to present a photo ID and spend approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete the process before leaving the documentation.
In Steele County, the drop off location is the United Way offices at 245 SE 18th St., Suite 1, Owatonna.
In Rice County, documents may be dropped off at Buckham West, 19 Division St. W. in Faribault. In Freeborn County, the drop-off site is at Workforce Development, Inc., 2200 Riverland Dr., Albert Lea.
Both the Freeborn and Rice County locations are available only from Feb. 15 to April 15.
Under the program, taxes can be filed for income tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Through April 15, Duncan said, priority is given to the 2025 tax filings.
Duncan said that it is important to note that effective with the 2025 filing period, federal refunds will no longer be issued by paper check, and all filers must have direct deposit to a bank account. The state is still issuing refunds by paper check, she said, at least for this tax season.
She said that last year, about 25% of their clients did not have a bank account.