A volunteer tax preparer works with a client at SDC’s Teutonia site. (Photo courtesy of SDC)

Thousands of Milwaukee County residents rely on the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) operation of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free preparation of state and federal taxes. The Social Development Commission is the lead agency and largest preparer of taxes for the county’s VITA program. SDC will offer tax preparation from January 23 through April 18, 2017

Low and middle-income residents with an annual household income of $56,000 or less in 2016 are eligible to receive tax services at no charge. Qualifying residents can receive tax preparation and, for many, direct deposit, and avoid high preparation fees or refund anticipation loans.

The service provided by VITA is even more beneficial to those that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). Filers claiming these credits will not receive a refund prior to February 15 due changes to the tax laws passed by congress. High profile tax preparation agencies lure low and middle- income individuals and families with the offer of 0% interest loans. Customers later discover that there are high processing fees associated with the loans as well as preparation of their returns.

Tax preparation and filing services will be offered at three sites Monday through Saturday. As part of SDC’s program, one additional site will operate at a more limited capacity on different days of the week.

Monday – Saturday sites:

SDC – North Avenue
1730 W. North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53205
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.: 8:00am – 4:00pm; Thurs: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Sat: 8:00am- Noon

SDC – Teutonia
6848 N Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53209
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.: 8:00am – 4:00pm; Thurs: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Sat: 8:00am- Noon

SDC – Milwaukee Christian Center
804 S. 14th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.: 8:00am – 4:00pm; Thurs: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Sat: 8:00am- Noon

Additional site:

MATC Downtown (Student Center Building, 1st Floor)
700 W State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Tues.: 6:00pm -7:30pm – Limited to first 20 Taxpayers Only; Sat.: 10:00am- 1:30pm – Limited to first 30 Taxpayers Only Only operates January 28 – April 4, 2017

Qualifications for Milwaukee County residents, information on what to bring and the schedule for services is available in English and Spanish and is located on SDC’s website at cr-sdc.org/programs/VITA Volunteer Tax Assistance Program.

Residents meeting qualifications can use the online Facilitated Self Assistance service that provides the ability to file electronically free at http://www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes/.

The 2017 VITA program was made possible through the generous support of the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, the City of Milwaukee, Associated Bank Foundation, Guaranty Bank, Northwestern Mutual, Landmark Credit Union and Great Midwest Bank.

This is the 16th season that the SDC’s operation of the VITA program has aided residents maximize their tax returns. In the first 15 years of the program, there have been over 176,000 returns filed resulting in more than $185 million in tax refunds and credits back to residents and the local economy.

For more than 50 years, the Social Development Commission has operated as the Community Action Agency for Milwaukee County. SDC serves as a planner, coordinator, and provider of human service programs for low- income individuals and families residing in Milwaukee County. The agency is an intergovernmental commission and is governed by a board of 18 citizens from Milwaukee County, each of whom hold the title of “Commissioner.” For more information on SDC’s programs and services, visit cr-sdc.org. Connect with us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/SDCMilwaukee and Twitter www.twitter.com/CRSDC.