IRS-certified tax return preparation is provided for qualified households at Christian Help downtown.
If your 2025 household income was $67,000 or less, you may qualify for free basic tax return preparation. It’s part of the 57-year-old Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs sponsored by the IRS, and it’s offered by appointment at Christian Help downtown until April 1.
“The program is made up of volunteers who are certified to provide free tax assistance for low-to-moderate-income families who need help preparing their tax return,” explains Christian Help Executive Director Colleen Lankford.
Around half of Monongalia County households may qualify. “The median income in Monongalia County is $62,000 to $63,000,” Lankford says—a few thousand dollars a year under the $67,000 income limit. “If someone makes $15 an hour, that’s around $32,000.”
Tax return preparation is provided by income tax accounting students at WVU who have been trained and certified by the IRS—and their work is reviewed by certified preparers.
You can take advantage of the service in three easy steps. First, call 304.296.0221 to make an appointment. The service is offered Wednesdays through April 1, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Even if your situation seems complicated—income earned in multiple states, international citizenship, or back taxes that are past due—go ahead and call. VITA tax preparers are able to work with complexities, Lankford says.
Next, show up to your appointment with the documents that support your tax filing. If you are a married couple filing jointly, both of you need to attend the appointment and have the documents. The list looks long, but it’s about the same information that you would need to gather to file for yourself. Take with you:
- An original photo identification for each wage earner
- Social security numbers for all wage earners and dependents who will be listed on the return—social security cards are preferable
- Birth dates of all wage earners and dependents
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
- Wage and earning statements—Forms W-2 or 1099—from all employers
- Documentation relating to any other income, including freelance or gig work
- The total paid to a day care provider and the day care provider’s social security number or business employer identification number
- Health insurance statements—Forms 1095-A, -B, or -C
- Documentation supporting deductions, including charitable contributions
- If you will want any refund direct deposited, proof of your bank routing and account numbers, such as a blank check
You can find details about the kinds of documents that meet the requirements here.
At that first meeting, a volunteer will make sure you have all of the necessary documentation and scan it into a secure system. That’s it—the hard part is over.
Finally, return for a follow-up meeting to review and approve your prepared form and receive a copy. That’s it!
Last year, Christian Help’s first year hosting the service, 11 volunteers gave over 380 hours of their time to prepare 65 returns. Lankford hopes to expand the program. “If we can grow this partnership with WVU, I would really like to see it grow into something that could be offered five days a week for the duration of the tax season.”
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