Tax Preparation Services
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The Personal Finance Center coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided in partnership with United Way of Central Florida. Our team of IRS-certified volunteers prepares tax returns at no cost for clients with household incomes of $66,000 or less. We e-file most returns, so if you are due a refund and choose direct deposit, you should receive your refund within a couple of weeks.
More than that, we are passionate about the financial stability of our clients. Building a savings account to help with emergencies is key to becoming financially stable. Our tax experts can help you split your refund to put cash into savings.
During the 2020 tax season, our tax sites prepared 929 returns with 723 resulting in refunds. Ten percent (93) of our taxpayers deposited their refunds to savings accounts for total savings of $216,019.
2022 Volunteer Opportunities:
Are you interested in being a volunteer? Please call Suzanne at (863) 425-1523, ext 101. We need greeters and preparers for the 2022 tax season, and would love to have YOU! We provide training free of charge, so you will be confident and competent in your ability to prepare simple tax returns. We schedule training in December, and tax season is the last week of January through the first week of April. We try to place you at the site of your choice, and most volunteers commit one day (about five hours) a week.
The PFC staff and volunteers celebrate Alice Childs (left), honored as the "2019 Volunteer of the Year." Alice is a five-year volunteer, and our clientele love working with her year after year. Thank you, Alice!
2021 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon:
This year our volunteers went above and beyond the call of duty providing free tax return preparation during the COVID pandemic. On May 27, 2021, we celebrated their hard work at an Appreciation and Awards Luncheon at the Cessna Textron Center at Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo. Thank you, volunteers!
Tarrel Davis presents the awards for Most Returns Filed and Most Dollars Deposited to Savings Accounts to Exploration V Children's Museum. Congratulations and thank you for great work!
2022 Free Tax Preparation Sites
We will operate eight free tax preparation sites (shown below) from January 24, 2022 through April 8, 2022; however, the Mulberry Community Service Center is available year round to help late filers. For more information, call (863) 425-1523.
To prepare for your tax appointment, please check below for a list of what documents to bring.
Mulberry Community Service Center
211 NW First Avenue
Mulberry, FL 33860
Wednesdays, 10:00 - 3:30
Jan 26 - Apr 6, 2022
Walk-in site
Explorations V Children’s Museum
109 N. Kentucky Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33801
Tues, Wed, & Fri, 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 25 - Apr 8, 2022
By appointment only
(863) 687-3869
Haines City Library
111 N. 6th Street
Haines City, FL 33844
Fridays, 10:00 - 3:30
Jan 28 - Apr 8, 2022
Walk-in site
Simpson Park Community Center
1725 Martin Luther King Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33805
Mondays, 10:00 - 3:30
Jan 24 - Apr 4, 2022
(except Feb 21)
Walk-in site
Women's Resource Center
165 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Wed & Thurs, 10:00 - 3:00
Feb 2 - Apr 7, 2022
By appointment only
(863) 294-5318
Florida Southern College
Becker Business Building
969 Hollingsworth Road
Lakeland, FL 33801
Fridays, 10:00 - 12:00
Saturdays, 1:00 - 3:00
Feb 5 - Apr 2, 2022
Walk-in site
Salvation Army
(Assisted Self-Preparation Site)
2620 Kathleen Road
Lakeland, FL 33810
Mon - Thurs, 9:00 - 5:00
Jan 31 - Apr 7, 2022
By appointment only
(863) 853-2214
Bartow Church Service Center
495 E. Summerlin Street
Bartow, FL 33830
Mon &Tues, 9:00 - 2:30
Feb 7 - Apr 5, 2022
By appointment only
(863) 533-5822
Busy tax day at the Mulberry Community Service Center
One Day Tax-a-thon
United Way of Central Florida
5605 US-98
Lakeland, FL 33812
Sat, February 12
Times TBD
United Way
of Central Florida
What to Bring to Your Tax Appointment:
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Savings Account information including routing number and account number for direct deposit of refund
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Identification (driver’s license, photo ID, passport)
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If Married Filing Jointly: Both spouses must be present with photo IDs and Social Security cards or ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) for everyone listed on the return.
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Birthdates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the return
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Wage and earning statements (W-2, W-2G, 1099R, 1099 Misc, Social Security summary)
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Interest and Dividend Statements (1099-Int, 1099-Div)
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Forms 1095-A, B, or C Health Coverage Statements or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate
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Total paid for daycare and the provider’s tax identifying number
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Any other tax form such as an IRS PIN number
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Last year’s tax return, if possible
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IRS Letter 6475 (amount received for third stimulus payment)
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IRS Letter 6419 (amount of advanced child tax credit received)