Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program

Free tax assistance is provided at several locations in Saginaw to those who cannot pay for tax preparation.

Trained volunteers will prepare simple tax forms beginning January 30 through April 15 for low-income individuals, elderly, handicapped and non-English speaking residents.

Document Check List:

• Photo ID 
• Social Security card and S.S. cards for all dependents
• W2's for wages
• Statement from DHS
• Consumers Energy bill
• Property tax bill or proof of rent paid
• Landlord's name & address
• 1099's for interest or other payments received
• 1099R pension income if retired
• SSA 1099 for social security income
• Last year's tax return

Qualifying Incomes for 2008 EITC:

• $48,279 married, filing jointly, with three or more qualifying children
  $43,279 single with three or more qualifying children
  $45,295 married, filing jointly, with two qualifying children 
  $40,295 single with two qualifying children
  $40,463 married, filing jointly, with one qualifying child
  $35,463 single with one qualifying child
  $18,440 married, filing jointly, without qualifying children
  $13,440 single without qualifying children

Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC is a tax credit for certain people who work. You can use our simple qualifying incomes below or for more detailed information, please refer to the IRS website.

Saginaw County Locations -

Help through FREE Income Tax programs can be found at the following locations:

More about the VITA Program:

Program Description: The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, which has been in existance for approximately 40 years, provides free tax return preparation by trained volunteers to qualifying taxpayers.

Program Facts: 

The Saginaw County VITA program is coordinated by United Way and assisted by members of the Saginaw Bay Financial Awareness Coalition.

The Saginaw Bay Financial Awareness Coalition was organized in 2004 and includes representatives from nonprofit, educational and financial organizations. After a partnership with United Way of Bay County was established in 2009, the coalition changed its name to the Saginaw Bay Financial Awareness Coalition.

EITC (Earned Income Tax Credits) are used to determine client eligibility.

For more than 16 years, Yeo & Yeo CPAs have continued to prepare and facilitate federal tax return training with donated staff time. This training includes volunteers from the Saginaw, Bay and Midland programs.

Various sites have been established in the Saginaw County community through the use of donated space.

In 2008, more than $3.2 million was returned to our community via VITA prepared tax returns. There were 44 trained volunteers who prepared more than 5,000 returns for 2,458 taxpayers.