Ginny Gnadt
Senior Public Relations Specialist
(414) 297-6770, gnadtv@matc.edu

Free Help with Tax Returns Offered at Two MATC Campuses

MILWAUKEE  (Jan. 9, 2009) – People who earn less than $54,000 in annual family income are eligible for free help in preparing basic personal income tax returns at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St.; and the Oak Creek Campus, 6665 S. Howell Ave. MATC accounting students provide the service in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs.

All returns are e-filed to ensure speed and accuracy. Now in its 27th year at the Oak Creek Campus and its seventh year at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, the program heightens awareness of Wisconsin’s Homestead Credit and the Earned Income Credit, an often overlooked federal tax break for low-income working people who are raising children in their homes.

Milwaukee Campus Dates and Hours
Tax help will be offered Jan. 27 through April 15 (closed April 11); Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 - 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The first 25 clients will receive assistance weeknights and the first 50 clients will be served on Saturdays. Senior citizens will receive priority service. Go to the VITA office, Room M173 of the Main Building at 1015 N. 6th St. Enter at 6th and Highland. A volunteer will be assigned exclusively for taxpayers 62 and older.

Oak Creek Campus Dates and Hours
Tax help will be offered Jan. 28 – April 4, Wednesdays, 4 - 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – noon. The first 25 clients will be assisted at each session. Enter at the back of the cafeteria, Room A100.

Bring wage and earnings statements (W-2 forms), bank interest statements (1099 forms), a copy of last year’s return and photo identification. Also bring receipts for property taxes paid, certificate for rent paid (signed by landlord), Social Security cards for spouses and dependents, Social Security number or tax ID number for providers of child care, and any other relevant information about earnings and expenses. Most refunds are directly deposited into a checking or savings account, so please bring your bank routing number and account number. A cancelled check works best for checking to ensure correct deposit information.

Student volunteers are trained by the Internal Revenue Service and supervised by MATC instructors. For more information, please call Bobbie Sherrod, (414) 297-8417, at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus; or Jim Benedum, (414) 571-4757, at the Oak Creek Campus.