{"id":58961,"date":"2025-01-23T21:01:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T21:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/?page_id=58961"},"modified":"2026-02-02T16:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:59:19","slug":"volunteer-income-tax-assistance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/programs-courses\/school-of-business-social-sciences\/volunteer-income-tax-assistance\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Income Tax Assistance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">The IRS\u2019s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax return preparation for qualified individuals. VITA services are not only free, but they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">Ocean County College will host a VITA site for 2025 tax returns beginning on February 2, 2026. Volunteers include Ocean County College students, faculty, and alumni. The site is open to members of the public who qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide is-style-h4\">Qualifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">Most individuals and married couples with incomes less than $69,000 per year are eligible for assistance with their tax preparation and e-filing for state and federal taxes. Some taxpayers may have less common circumstances that prevent a VITA site from preparing your return, per the Internal Revenue Service guidelines. The IRS has issued&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p3676bsp.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Publication 3676<\/strong><\/a>,&nbsp;listing what types of returns can and cannot be prepared. Please make sure you qualify before making an appointment. For questions, contact&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:VITA@ocean.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>VITA@ocean.edu<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">To serve as many clients as possible, we may be unable to serve those whose returns require excessive data entry, such as those with many stocks or other security sales. Please note that we cannot assist non-US resident taxpayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\"><strong><em><u>We cannot prepare prior year, amended, and out-of-state (non-NJ) returns.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide is-style-h4\"><strong>Appointments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">This is an appointment-only site. (no walk-in or drop off services)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/occvita.youcanbook.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Schedule an Appointment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide is-style-h4\"><strong>Operating Days and Hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">Mon: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.<br>Tue: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.<br>Wed: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.<br>Thurs: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.<br>Fri: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide is-style-h4\">What to Bring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">The IRS will not allow VITA to prepare taxes without required documentation. Be prepared to provide the following to your appointment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide has-background-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For married filing joint, both spouses must be present<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Last years Tax Return<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government issued photo identification for you and your spouse (if married)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number documents for you, your spouse, and\/or dependents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Birth dates for you, spouse, and\/or dependents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A copy of last year\u2019s tax return<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All Forms W-2 and 1099<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forms 1095-A, B or C (ACA Statements)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information for other income<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information for all deductions (including charitable contributions)\/credits -these should be totaled by category<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total paid to day care provider and their tax ID number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For direct deposit of refund, proof of account and bank\u2019s routing number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide is-style-h4\"><strong>Location<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\">Ocean County College<br>1 College Drive<br>Toms River, NJ 08754<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Library Building<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Building 3, Library Tower, Room 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-text-align-wide\"><strong><em>(Park in Lot 1)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pattern-contact-block alignwide is-style-dark-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pattern-contact-block__text is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get in Touch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-subtitle\">Have any Questions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/mail.svg\" alt=\"mail icon\" class=\"wp-image-46674\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow-button is-style-arrow-button--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">VITA@ocean.edu<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The IRS\u2019s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax return preparation for qualified individuals. VITA services are not only free, but they are also a reliable and trusted&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":19626,"parent":481,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":""},"class_list":["post-58961","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"has_advanced_title_block":false,"subtitle":"","blurb":"","links":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"ticketed":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/58961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/58961\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/481"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}