Erie Free Taxes

• Military tax preparation available
• K-1 (Form 1041) tax preparation available
• 1099 B tax preparation available
• PA-100 tax preparation available

Returns prepared by appointment only! Please contact the site listed below for availability and scheduling.

Millcreek Township Municipal Building
3608 West 26^th St., Erie, PA
Monday & Friday 9 am till 3 pm
814-833-1111 ext 329 

Venango VFW
20628 Gospel Hill Rd. Venango, PA 16440
Saturdays 9 am till 3 pm
814-398-8005 

Union City Senior Center
27 Johnson Street, Union City, PA 16438
9 am till 3 pm
814-438-2146

Erie FREE Taxes will be offering free post-season tax preparation May 23rd - August 27th 2022 at select locations

Blasco Library
select Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (last appointment at 12 p.m.)

***Interested filers should call Marybelle Martin, Erie FREE Taxes Director, at  814.456.2937 (ext 226) or  send an email to marybelle@unitedwayerie.org to schedule***

In addition to face-to-face tax filing sessions with qualified volunteer tax preparers, Erie FREE Taxes offers 3 additional filing options: Drop Off service, free online self-preparation tax filing, and remote tax filing service. 

Drop Off Service: The Drop Off process allows tax filers to drop off their tax documents at a designated VITA site location and return later to review and sign their completed tax returns.

Benefits of Drop Off Service: 

• No appointment needed 
• No waiting for tax returns to be completed 
• Convenient for tax filers with busy schedules 
• Estimated length of time for completion of tax returns: 5-7 business days 

To schedule a Drop Off appointment call: 1-888-829-5680

MyFreeTaxes (MFT): a free, easy-to-use, interview-based online tax prep software program that allows tax filers to prepare and transmit their own federal and state tax returns.  

Benefits of MyFreeTaxes: 

• No income limit 
• Free, easy to use 
• Convenient-prepare tax returns at home, office, or wherever a secure internet connection and computer are available 
• Saves cost of purchasing commercial tax prep software programs 
• Great for filers with simple returns, college students, single filers, part-time workers, individuals with disabilities, regardless of age 

Click here to get started.

Virtual VITA: Virtual VITA is an alternate method of filing taxes that does not require any face-to-face contact between filer and preparer. All interaction is conducted through a secure IRS designed client portal.

Benefits of Virtual VITA: 

• Provides another alternative to filers who have a computer or smartphone, and an email address
• Digital equipment that enables filers to take pictures of, or scan and save, tax documents 
• Skills needed to send or upload digital documents and forms, or pictures of the documents and forms over the internet to a secure document  
• Convenient 

To schedule a Virtual VITA appointment call: 1-888-829-5680 

Tax Site Safety Precautions: steps will be taken at every tax site location to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. They include:

• Drop off process will be used to limit the amount of in-person contact during tax preparation.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at tax site entrances, exits, and tax preparation workstations.
• Volunteers and tax filers will be pre-screened for COVID symptoms before entering the site.
• Table-top face shields will be used to protect tax filers and VITA volunteers as needed.
• Tax filers and VITA volunteers must wear masks while on-site. Erie FREE Taxes will make masks available for any volunteer or tax filer who comes to the site without a mask.
• Any VITA volunteer or tax filer who refuses to wear a mask, comply with social distancing, or other CDC guidelines, will not be permitted to remain on-site.
• Any VITA volunteer or tax filer who displays COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted to remain on-site.
• VITA workstations will be a minimum of 6’ apart.
• VITA workstations and waiting areas will be sanitized in between each tax filer appointment.
• Building access by VITA volunteers and tax filers will be limited.
• Erie FREE Taxes will keep appointment and volunteer schedules for contact tracing needs.

Items You Need To Bring To The Vita Site To Have Your Tax Returns Prepared:

• Photo ID for you and your spouse, if applicable
• Social Security cards for you, your spouse, and dependents 
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter may be substituted for you, your spouse, and your dependents if you do not have a Social Security number
• Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return
• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
• Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check
• To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms
• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number
• Form 1095-A Health Coverage Statements
• Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable
• Verification of stimulus payment amount, if applicable
• Child Tax Credit advance payments, if applicable

Depending on the amount of wages you earned, or combined income with social security, you may be required to file federal, state and local wage returns.

IF YOU RECEIVED HEALTHCARE FROM THE MARKETPLACE – you are required to file.  

Not filing a tax return that is required can have serious consequences on your financial future.

You may be eligible for a tax refund!

If you made wages at a part time or full time job, some taxes may have been withheld.  You may be able to get part, or all, of that money back by filing a federal income tax return. 

You may be eligible for extra money from tax credits!

There are tax breaks if you have children, have worked even a part time job during the tax year, if you have college students living at home, or if you are a college student yourself.