Free Tax Preparation Services

Johnson County Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Campaign

“You Earned It! Now Claim It!”

  Frequently Asked Questions

Johnson County is pleased to partner with the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, Johnson County AARP, Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City Housing Authority, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, Johnson County Council of Governments, and United Way of Johnson County to bring FREE tax preparation services to working people in community sites throughout Johnson County.

Sponsored By:

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program trains University of Iowa students and AARP volunteers to provide FREE Income Tax Preparation Services to qualifying workers.

Download these documents for more information about the site schedules and materials to bring to the sites: 

Flyer (English) 
Flyer (Español)
Intake Form (English) 
Intake Form (Español)

There are five (5) locations throughout Johnson County that provide FREE Tax Preparation Services.  Please see below for site locations and schedules.  Spanish translators are available at all sites.  For translation assistance for other languages (including sign language) please contact 356-6090 to arrange in advance. 

Iowa City Public Library SPANISH TRANSLATORS AVAILABLE TRADUCTORES ESPAÑOLES DISPONIBLES  Contact 356-6090 to arrange for other translation needs	123 S. Linn Street DOWNTOWN Iowa City No appointment necessary. SCHEDULE: Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 8:45 pm, two Monday sessions & one Tuesday session from 5:40 to 8:45.  SUNDAY: 1:00 - 4:00 pm January 31 February 7, 14, 21, 28 March 7, 28 April 11  Wednesday: 5:45 to 8:45 pm February 3, 10, 17, 24 March 3, 10, 24, 31  April 7, 14  Monday or Tuesday: 5:45 to 8:45 pm Monday, April 5 or 12 Tuesday, April 13
Penn Elementary School SPANISH TRANSLATORS AVAILABLE TRADUCTORES ESPAÑOLES DISPONIBLES  Contact 356-6090 to arrange for other translation needs	230 N Dubuque Street North Liberty No appointment necessary. SCHEDULE: Mondays evenings from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Monday evenings: March 22, 29
Lucas Elementary School SPANISH TRANSLATORS AVAILABLE TRADUCTORES ESPAÑOLES DISPONIBLES  Contact 356-6090 to arrange for other translation needs	830 Southlawn Drive EASTSIDE Iowa City No appointment necessary. SCHEDULE: Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  Sunday afternoons: February 14, 21, 28 March 7
Northwest Junior High School SPANISH TRANSLATORS AVAILABLE TRADUCTORES ESPAÑOLES DISPONIBLES Contact 356-6090 to arrange for other translation needs	1507 8st Street Coralville No appointment required. SCHEDULE: Monday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  Monday evenings: February 15, 22 March 1, 8
Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center	28 South Linn Street DOWNTOWN Iowa City Appointment required. Call for appointments starting Thursday, January 15th - 356-5220 SCHEDULE: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30am to 4:00pm beginning February 3rd and ending April 14th.

Information excerpted and adapted from “Your Tax Credit Outreach Campaign:  What you Need to Know” (2009) from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. On the Internet at www.cbpp.org. 

 Who is eligible for VITA tax preparation services?

This service is available for free to people who earned less than $49,000 in 2009.

 What do I need to bring to the Tax Preparation Site?

1. Completed Intake Form. CLICK HERE FOR THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE FORM  or CLICK HERE FOR THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE FORM . (Don’t worry if you forget this, you can complete it at the Preparation Site.
2. Proof of your identification (a driver’s license or other photo ID).
3. Social Security or ITIN cards for you, your spouse, and your dependents, or any other person you support, or a verification letter issued by the social Security Administration.
4. Birth dates for you, spouse and dependents on tax return
5. Current year’s tax package if you received one
6. Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers, in all states 
7. Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
8. Copy of last year’s Federal and State returns if filed.
9. Total paid for daycare provider and the day care provider’s tax ID number (the provider’s SSN or provider’s business Employer ID number)
10. Documentation of amount of real estate taxes paid, if any
11. To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms 
12. For direct deposit of your refund or to split your refund into more than one account, bring your financial institution names, account numbers and the 9-digig American Bankers Association (ABA) routing numbers.  Contact your bank if you need assistance identifying the ABA numbers.  (Note:  if you have a checking account, you can bring a blank check instead). 

 Do I need an appointment?

You do not need an appointment for tax preparation services at Lucas, Penn, Northwest Jr. High, or the Iowa City Public Library.  You do need to make an appointment for services provided at the Senior Center.  Call 356-5220 to make an appointment. 

 How much time will it take?

It will take between 20 to 30 minutes to complete your taxes.  You may need to wait for an open tax preparation station.  All of the sites will file tax returns electronically (using a computer).

 Are translation services available?

Spanish translation is available at the Iowa City Public Library, Lucas Elementary, Northwest Junior High, and Penn Elementary.  Please call 356-6090 to arrange for other translation needs in advance at any of the above listed sites.

 Who can I call if I have any questions about the VITA tax preparation sites?

You can contact Amy Correia, the Johnson County Social Services Coordinator at (319) 339-6090.

 What is the Earned Income Credit? 

The Earned Income Credit is a special tax benefit for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. It has several important purposes, including reducing tax burden and supplementing wages.

Workers who qualify for the EIC and file a federal tax return can get back some or all of the federal income tax that was taken out of their pay during the year. They may also get extra cash back from the IRS. Even workers whose earnings are too small to owe income tax can get the EIC. 

 How much could I get back?

 Single or married people who worked full-time or part-time at some point in 2009 can qualify for the EIC, depending on their income.
• Workers who were raising one child in their home and had income of less than $35,463 (or $40,463) for married workers) in 2009 can get an EIC of up to $3,043.
• Workers who were raising two children in their home and had income of less than $40,295 (or $45,295 for married workers) in 2009 can get an EIC of up to $5,028.
• Workers who were raising three or more children in their home and had income of less than $43,279 (or $48,279 for married workers) in 2009 can get an EIC of up to $5,657.
• Workers who were not raising children in their home, were between ages 25 & 64 on December 31, 2009, and had income below $13,440 (or $18,440 for married workers) can get an EIC up to $457.

[NOTE: Workers with investment income exceeding a certain amount  in 2009 may not claim the EIC]

 Who is a “qualifying child” for the purposes of the Earned Income Credit?

• Sons, daughters, stepchildren, grandchildren and adopted children
• Brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, or stepsisters – as well as descendants of such relatives
• Foster children who are placed with the worker by an authorized government or private placement agency

“Qualifying children” must live with the worker for more than half of the year. They must be under age 19, or under age 24 if they are full-time students. Children of any age who have total and permanent disabilities also may be qualifying children. Valid Social Security numbers are required for qualifying children born before December 31, 2009.

 Can immigrant workers claim the Earned Income Credit?

Many immigrants who are legally authorized to work can qualify for the EIC, as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.

 Does the Earned Income Credit affect eligibility for other public benefits?

The Earned Income Credit does not count as income in determining eligibility for benefits like cash assistance (FIP), Medicaid, food stamps, SSI or public housing. The FIP program exempts EIC payments in the month received as well as in the following month. Funds remaining after the end of the second month are countable resources. 

 Can the Earned Income Credit help Workers with Disabilities?

To be eligible for the Earned Income Credit, individuals must have earned income.  Benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance, SSI, military disability pensions, and payments from individually-purchased disability insurance policies are not counted as earned income.  Individuals who receive these types of benefits may qualify for the Earned Income Credit if they, or their spouse, also have earned income.