Miami Dade College (MDC) once again will provide free tax preparation services to low-income individuals, the elderly and non-English-speaking residents throughout Miami-Dade County as part of the Internal Revenue’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Administered and staffed by Miguel B. Fernandez School of Global Business, Trade and Transportation faculty and students, services will be available Feb. 5-Apr. 14 at various MDC campuses.
Launched 25 years ago, the VITA program initially began at the Wolfson Campus and was extended to other locations, including the North, Kendall, InterAmerican, Homestead, and Hialeah campuses. VITA Centers are supervised by MDC’s School of Business professors and experienced coordinators. Students serve as volunteers who prepare free individual income tax returns for other students, their families and the general public. The returns are reviewed by the professors or experienced coordinators before being electronically filed with the IRS.
Every year the college wide VITA Program has between 80 and 100 volunteers. Last year, the program completed 2,404 individual tax returns, amounting to more than $2,754,184 in refunds. More than $977,005 in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was refunded to qualifying individuals. Overall, the program has given back to the residents of Miami-Dade County more than $50 million in refunds since it began a quarter century ago.
Requirements to have taxes prepared through the VITA program include Social Security card and Social Security cards of any dependents to be claimed; Photo ID; W-2 earnings statement; 1099 MISC (for self-employed only); 1099 INT (interest income), and any documents pertaining to expenses to be claimed.
Federal income tax returns must be in the mail and postmarked no later than Monday, Apr. 15, 2019.
MDC VITA locations and hours:
MDC’s Wolfson Campus (Feb. 5-Apr. 11), 300 NE Second Ave., Room 2103; Walk-ins: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; telephone 305- 237-3151; Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
MDC’s North Campus (Feb. 5-Apr. 11), 11380 NW 27 Ave., Building 3, First Floor, Room 3101; Walk-ins: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.;
telephone 305-237-1199; Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Creole.
MDC’s Kendall Campus (Feb. 5-Apr. 11), 11011 SW 104 St., Computer Courtyard, Building 2, Room 2118; Walk-ins: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (first come, first served); telephone 305-237-2502 or 305-237-2375. Additional information: Taxpayers must arrive at the site at least one hour before closing to be served. Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
MDC’s InterAmerican Campus (Feb. 6-Apr. 10); 627 SW 27 Ave., Room 3206; Walk-ins: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; telephone 305-237-6484. Additional information: Customers will be accepted until 3 p.m., Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
MDC’s Hialeah Campus (Feb. 7-Apr. 14); 1776 W. 49 St., Room 2217;
Walk-ins: Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., telephone 305-237-1199; Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
MDC’s Homestead Campus (Feb. 9-Apr. 13) 500 College Terrace, Room D307; Walk-ins: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; tekephone 305-237-5109;
Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
For more information about the MDC/IRS VITA program, call 305-237-3151.
