The OCCOA annually partners with the IRS to provide a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program. The program is targeted at taxpayers with incomes of $56,000 or less. VITA return preparers are volunteers who have been trained and certified, annually, through VITA. In addition to preparing federal and state returns, volunteers can prepare Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credits and Home Heating Credits for those who qualify. The program is available free-of-charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Otsego County Commission on Aging VITA site offer e-filing for state and federal returns?

The VITA site sponsored by the Otsego County Commission on Aging offers e-filing for federal and state tax return preparation.

Where are returns prepared?

Tax clinics will be held at the Gaylord Meal Site in Gaylord, which is located in the Alpine Alten Zimmer.

What are the dates of the tax clinics?

Tax clinics will be scheduled on various days, by appointment, dependent upon volunteer availability, from February 5, 2020 through April 15, 2020. Appointments are targeted toward taxpayers with a combined household income of $56,000 or less and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis after January 5, 2020. To schedule an appointment, please contact us through our website’s “Contact Us” page. You may also call OCCOA Volunteer Program Assistant Maureen Borowiak at (989) 748-4066 to schedule an appointment.

What should I plan to bring to my appointment?

When you are scheduled for an appointment, a list of items that you will need to bring to your appointment will be mailed or emailed to you.

Is there a charge for the program?

There is no charge for the preparation of your return.

Where′s my federal refund?

To learn the status of your federal refund, you may contact the IRS Refund Hotline at (800) 829-1954 or the IRS Teletax System at (800) 829-4477. Alternatively, you may visit https://www.irs.gov/refunds/about-wheres-my-refund. If you e-filed, please allow 21 days from the time you e-filed before contacting the IRS. If you paper filed, please allow 6 weeks.

Where′s my Michigan refund?

To learn the status of your Michigan refund, you may contact the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4486. Alternatively, you may visit http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,4676,7-238-43513_75466—,00.html. If you e-filed, please allow four weeks from the time you filed before contacting the Michigan Department of Treasury. If you paper filed, please allow 4 to 6 weeks.

Are there other free e-filing sites for state and federal returns?
IRS Listing of VITA and TCE Sites (Currently  being updated by the IRS)
Click here for an IRS listing of additional VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) or TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) sites in Northern Michigan. You may also call (800) 906-9887.
 
AARP Listing of TCE Sites
AARP, which sponsors the TCE sites, provides a complete listing of these sites on its website.
 
MyFreeTaxes
If you, or you and your spouse, are comfortable filing your own taxes, you may e-file for free (unless you need to file Schedules C, D, or E) through myfreetaxes.com. This is a partnership between United Way and H & R Block.  All income levels are invited to file through myfreetaxes.com.
 
(Click here to learn how your civil rights are protected.)
If I wish to pay for professional tax e-filing services, what is available?

Click here for the IRS’s authorized professional e-filers for individuals.

Free Tax Assistance Program Staff:

Eileen Godek, OCCOA Research & Volunteer Coordinator and VITA Site Coordinator

Maureen Borowiak, OCCOA Volunteer Program Assistant and Tax Program Appointment Scheduler

 

“The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax.”

~Albert Einstein~