Those who were over the income limit for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in years past might want to check again before they pay to have their 2023 taxes done.

Phil Schmeltzer, VITA coordinator, said the annual income ceiling has been raised for 2024 from $50,000 to $60,000.

“So in a sense, you could say we’re increasing our income limit by 20%,” Schmeltzer said.

He said about 45 volunteers will be completing federal and state tax returns for free at four locations in Butler County and one in neighboring Armstrong County.

Of those volunteers, 17 will be Slippery Rock University students in a finance-related major who are completing their externships, Schmeltzer said.

Low- to moderate-income taxpayers across the county can have their state and federal income taxes done for free by certified VITA volunteers if they earned less than $60,000 in 2023.

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VITA has five locations, four of which are in Butler County. They are:

n Clearview Mall in Center Township, 101 Clearview Circle, Butler

n St. Luke Lutheran Church, 330 Hannahstown Road, Cabot

n Slippery Rock University, 165 Elm St., Slippery Rock

n Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA, 2001 Ehrman Road, Cranberry Township

n Harvest Community Church, 143 Reed Road, Kittanning (Armstrong County)

“They’re a group of volunteers who become IRS certified to prepare taxes,” he said. “They do live, in-person training, whether they’re returning or new.”

He said the average cost for a basic tax preparation at a company that provides those services is $250.

“VITA is an important service because last year, our volunteers at the five different sites completed over 1,800 tax returns, and that brought more than $1.7 million in tax refunds back to the county,” Schmeltzer said. “Also, we saved our clients over $300,000 in tax preparation fees.”

VITA does have a scope of services that precludes certain taxpayers from getting free tax preparation, but those are few and far between.

For example, those who collect rental income, people who own a small business that is an LLC, and taxpayers with trusts would not qualify.

“Generally, people who make $60,000 or less are going to qualify,” Schmeltzer said.

Schmeltzer said shale gas income is within the scope of VITA services.

Another change at VITA this year is that taxpayers do not call the 10-digit number to access service.

Those looking to get their taxes done by VITA volunteers should dial 211 and follow the prompts, which will connect to a person at the 211 tax line.

That person will schedule your appointment with VITA, or, for older taxpayers, the free tax preparation provided by AARP.

On the day or evening of the appointment, the taxpayer will sit with their preparer while their taxes are being completed in all sites but Cranberry Township, Schmeltzer said.

“Appointments are scheduled for an hour and we can generally do every tax return within that time,” he said.

Schmeltzer, who prepared taxes in the Cranberry Township location for 12 years before taking over at the VITA helm this year upon Jean Bowen’s retirement, explained that dropping off the taxes and waiting while they are completed works efficiently in the Cranberry Township location.

During the coronavirus pandemic, VITA continued to do taxes, but masked taxpayers dropped their documents off instead of sitting with a tax preparer.

All taxes are e-filed, so clients can receive their refunds either through direct deposit into their bank account or a paper check in the mail.

“Most do direct deposit,” Schmeltzer said.

If a client owes taxes, they can have the funds taken from their bank account and sent to the IRS electronically, or mail a check.

Schmeltzer said VITA has been providing free tax preparation for county residents for at least 15 years.

Beth Gillan, executive director at Center for Community Resources in Butler, said the center is thrilled to offer free tax preparation to those who might struggle to pay for the service.

“It’s a great program for the Butler community,” Gillan said.

She touted the focus of VITA tax preparers on getting the earned income tax credit for clients, which gives low- and moderate-income earners a significant tax break.

Gillan said people getting refunds in Butler are likely supporting the community as well.

“With it being a free service, they get all of their refund so they can utilize that money here in Butler County,” she said.

Gillan said receiving all the funds from a refund, instead of owing much of it to a tax preparation service, is a game changer for many families and individuals.

“We know people who have used it for rent or housing, to pay for utilities, to pay for propane so they can heat their homes, and car repairs,” Gillan said. “It is very important.”

She also praised Bowen, who coordinated the program since 2010.

“We are so grateful for Jeannie Bowen and her commitment to this program,” Gillan said. “She really established it and continued to provide it.”

She has no doubt Schmeltzer will continue Bowen’s focus on VITA clients.

“He’s been a dedicated volunteer, and when the opportunity came that we were looking for a coordinator, he stepped into that role,” Gillan said. “With his experience and the additional training Jeannie provided, he’s going to be doing a great job as well.”