
Forget the groundhogāthe sure signs of spring are the sweet return of Shamrock shakes, Girl Scout cookies, potholes and tax season. This season, because of the lingering effects of COVID-19, Prepare + Prosper (P+P) has bolstered its ability to help qualified individuals get their taxes prepared for free, by helping them do it themselves.Ā
P+P is the largest IRS-authorized Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA tax prep site in Minnesota. In pre-pandemic years, the organization would organize hundreds of trained volunteers at a dozen metro locations to help thousands of taxpayers with preparing and submitting their returns to the IRS, all at no cost to the customer.Ā Ā
To build capacity and help even more Minnesotans with filing their taxes, P+P has expanded this program with greater resources. āDIY Tax Prep offers three main things,ā said David Langley, the engagement manager at P+P. āFirst, we provide access to free tax preparation software; then a tax guide and virtual training available either live during online scheduled webinars or pre-recorded to be watched at the customerās convenience; and third, we have expert support available to answer questions through phone or email.ā
Lula, a DIY customer, stated in 2021, āThe whole P+P team [was] so helpful, patient and kind with me and my family as we navigated our taxes. The online TaxSlayer software was super easy and accessible, and they answered our questions about self-employment and dependents. I’m so grateful for their services.ā
The service is limited to filers with a total household income of $73,000 or less during the 2021 tax year, and the staff and volunteers have some limitations to assist with complex tax situations, such as income from driving a cab, rental property, cryptocurrency, or if any type of bankruptcy was filed in 2021.
This software and service are not available for tax years prior to 2021.Ā Ā
Learn more and access DIY Tax Prep at prepareandprosper.org/do-it-yourself-tax-prep.Ā Ā
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.