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Tax Preparation Services
The Mulberry Community Service Center's 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 $75,000 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 2022 tax season, our eight tax sites prepared 1,235 returns with 1,029 resulting in refunds. Over 11 percent of our taxpayers deposited their refunds to savings accounts for total savings of $404,335.
One more Child
Assisted Self-Preparation Site
1015 Sikes Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33802
Tuesdays: 9:00 - 12:00
Jan 31 - Mar 28, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 687-8811, x 2243
Florida Children’s Museum
600 Bonnet Springs Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33815
10:00 - 5:00
Monday, Jan 30
Monday, Feb 27
Monday, Mar 27, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 687-3869
Bartow Church Service Center
Tax Site: First Presbyterian Church
355 S. Florida Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Tuesdays: 9:00 - 2:00
Fridays: 9:00 - 2:00
Feb 3 - Apr 14, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 533-5822
Planned 2023 Free Tax Preparation Sites
We plan to provide these free tax preparation sites in union with our partners below. The sites will operate from January 23 through April 14, 2023. At full-service sites, trained volunteers will do your return, review it with you, and efile. At Assisted Self-Preparation Sites, you will have access to a computer and software to do your own return and efile; a trained volunteer will be available if you need assistance. Please review the list below of what to bring to your free tax return session.
CJB United Way Children's Resource Center
650 Bonnet Springs Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33815
Thursdays: 12:30 - 4:30
Jan 26 - Apr 13, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 786-1306, x 294
Haines City Library
111 N. 6th Street
Haines City, FL 33844
Fridays: 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 27 - Apr 14, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Fort Meade Library
75 E. Broadway Street
Fort Meade, FL 33841
Mondays: 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 23 - Apr 10, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Hands of Hope America
Four Corners Community Center - Suite 3
16605 Sunrise Lakes Blvd
Clermont, FL 34714
Wednesdays: 10:00 - 3:00
Feb 1 - Apr 12, 2023
Walk in site
(352) 432-3824
Heart for Winter Haven
1951 8th Street NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Fridays: 1:00 - 4:00
Jan 27 - Apr 14, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 291-6270
Larry Jackson Library
1700 North Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33805
Mondays: 3:00 - 6:30
Jan 23 - Apr 10, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Women's Resource Center
165 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Wednesdays
Jan 25 - Apr 12, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 875-8379
Mulberry Community Service Center
211 NW First Avenue
Mulberry, FL 33860
Wednesdays: 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 25 - Apr 12, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Salvation Army
Assisted Self-Preparation Site
2620 Kathleen Road
Lakeland, FL 33810
Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 4:00
Jan 23 - Apr 14, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 853-2214
Assisted
Self-Preparation
Sites
Saturday
Tax-a-Thons
Hardee Help Center
713 E Bay Street
Wauchula, FL
Saturday, Feb 11, 2023
Saturday, Mar 4, 2023
10:00 - 3:00
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Crystal Lake Elementary
700 Galvin Dr
Lakeland, FL 33801
Saturday, Feb 25, 2023
10:00 - 3:00
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
What to Bring to Your Tax Appointment:
The free tax return preparation service is provided through the United Way of Central Florida's financial stability initiative, which prioritizes the importance of emergency savings accounts. For this reason, you are requested to bring SAVINGS account information rather than checking account information for direct deposit of refunds. This enables us to continue providing the free tax return preparation service.
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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)
2023 Volunteer Opportunities:
Are you interested in being a volunteer? Please call Katie at (863) 425-1523, ext 103. 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!