NEPTUNE – Tax season is upon us and Fulfill, formerly The FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties is here to help! Fulfill is offering free personalized tax services at local shopping malls, including Monmouth Mall, Ocean County Mall and Freehold Raceway Mall.
VITA free tax preparation services will be available to working families from now until April 15. Make an appointment with NJ 211 by dialing 2-1-1, or schedule online at fulfillnj.org. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.
VITA, a free, IRS-sponsored program, will help you file your state and federal taxes with assistance from trained and certified VITA volunteers.
Fulfill has been providing free VITA tax prep for seven years. In 2018, Fulfill assisted over 4,300 households, resulting in over $7 million in tax refunds.
Take this opportunity to see what other assistance programs you may be eligible for, such as federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, certain requirements must be met and a tax return must be filed, even if you do not owe any tax or are not required to file.
“Many qualified families are not aware that they are eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Barbara Scholz, Program Director at Fulfill. “Just by filing an income tax return, these families can use that refund to pay for household bills, necessities, medical expenses or savings. It’s a real help, and it could pave the way for a financially successfully year.”
Households earning $55,000 or less and individuals earning $35,000 or less are eligible for Fulfill’s free tax preparation services.
Bilingual advisors will also be available.
