Area senior citizens agency awarded IRS grant

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 69 views 

WestArk RSVP recently received an IRS grant of $23,500 to support its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The local organization, a program of Western Arkansas Guidance and Counseling Center, was one of just 111 groups nationwide and two in Arkansas to receive funds from the IRS program. The IRS awarded almost $8 million for VITA programs nationwide.

WestArk RSVP will use the money to increase the capacity to files returns electronically, improve quality control, improve training of volunteers and improve the accuracy of returns prepared at VITA sites.

WestArk RSVP is hosting several tax preparation events.

Tax Return Clinic
This free service will be held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Jan. 30-31, at the Elm Grove Community Center at Martin Luther King Park in Fort Smith. Contact Susan Reehl at 783-4155 for details about this event.

Tax Counseling Service
This service is free for those over age 60, families with incomes under $42,000 and those who are unemployed. The assistance is available at the RSVP center at 401 N. 13th St., in Fort Smith, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Link here for information about RSVP and other regional tax counseling sites.