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In addition to the regular site listings, this
is a list of special services provided at different VITA sites in Santa
Clara County. It is written for Site Coordinators and updated as
Site Coordinators report them, but may also be of value to others:
Challenging returns:
A limited number of challenging returns (e.g. Schedule C,
Schedule D) are prepared at the Vita Milpitas Public Library Site,
subject to the experience, willingness and availability of
volunteers available that day - however, priority is always given to
those with taxpayers who are within the VITA guidelines.
Business Returns (New):
For those with small businesses and starting small businesses
needing Schedule Cs, there are special sessions for
FREE Small Business Tax Assistance and FREE Small
Business Workshops through IRS and other Coalition Members
1040X Amended Returns:
This requires special processing that is time consuming
the first time it is done, and may be outside the scope of the VITA
program, however, some sites are willing to prepare them for the
current year for returns prepared at that site. To do it on the
computer requires pretty much entering in the prior return, and then
the amended return to generate the 1040X.
E-file Only site:
VITA Milpitas Public Library Site will do only
E-file returns in line with the goals of the IRS to encourage
increased numbers and percentage of returns filed electronically.
It will not do hand prepared returns and will not prepare returns for
mailing. This is to avoid being part of the situation where
Taxpayers go to multiple sites to "shop" for the most favorable
return or want one site to review the work of another site.
Sites should be able to review their own returns, and this shopping
around wastes a lot of valuable volunteer time which could be better
used to help other taxpayers.
State Only Returns:
VITA sites will NOT prepare State Only Returns. The
effort required to prepare a State return is minimal once the Federal is
done, and it is an unproductive waste of time for volunteers to
redo a Federal return that has already been completed. If the IRS Walk-in
Center has prepared the return and sent them to your site, please
obtain as much information as possible about the return and send it to
our relationship manager to make sure it does not happen again.
Non Resident Returns 1040NR & NR-EZ:
Returns with existing ITINs:
Most established sites can handle such returns quite
easily with a little research. However, the following sites
have had experience dealing with such returns: VITA
Milpitas Public Library, Holy Korean Martyrs Catholic Church,
Most Holy Trinity, Santa Maria and County of Santa Clara
sites.
Returns without SSNs/ITINs:
These returns require special handling and
preparation of a W-7 in order to obtain a taxpayer ID.
Prior Year Returns:
Santa Maria, Most Holy Trinity,
and Gavilan College
sites
will do a limited number of such returns
for paper
filing only.
California Registered Domestic Partners (RDP) Returns:
This was a new situation
starting in 2008 (2007 Tax Year), and currently none of the Santa Clara
County VITA sites are known to be ready or
able to handle this. Recommend that they
contact California FTB VITA/TCE program to identify sites that can do
it, or seek out a paid preparer.
Retirement Savers Credit
Returns:
VITA Milpitas Public Library site actively encourages
taxpayers get this credit by telling taxpayers how much more of a credit
they can get in their situation by contributing to a retirement account.
Military Personnel
Returns:
Onizuka Air Force Base has a site for Military Personnel and
Spouse Returns Only; they are certified to do VITA Military
returns, and may be better able to help Military Personnel than other
sites. |
