Local governments offer tax-preparation programs

Some local commissioner of revenue offices are opening their doors to help residents prepare state tax returns.

Walk-in help with state taxes is available now through May 1 at offices in Charlottesville and the counties of Greene, Orange, Madison, Buckingham and Nelson.

“It’s just a nice customer service that taxpayers in the county can take advantage of,” said Donna Chewning, Orange’s commissioner of revenue.

Area residents of any financial bracket who want help with their Virginia taxes need only bring a completed federal tax form and their W-2s and other tax documents to their local commissioner’s office during normal business hours. Charlottesville’s office will help anyone from the region with their state taxes, although some of the other offices only will help residents of their county.

R. Lee Richards, the city’s commissioner of revenue, said his office is partially funded by the state. The state reimburses his office for state work done by the city, which includes processing returns from city residents. Richards said his office has been helping people with returns for several decades.

Last year, Charlottesville had about 6,000 people from the city and beyond walk in and ask for help with their taxes.

Some Charlottesville-area residents might not have to pay a portion or all of their state taxes this year. Rebecca Morton, the state income tax audit supervisor in Char-lottesville, said some local residents may qualify for the Virginia Earned Income Credit and/or the Credit for Low Income Individuals.

Morton said credits can help reduce the financial burden on people with low and middle incomes.

“If you don’t pay Virginia tax, it gives you more money to stimulate the economy and more money for your family,” Morton said.

Most taxpayers who meet the financial requirements for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit can get the Virginia Earned Income Credit, too. Although the federal credit can trigger a refund if it is more than the amount of taxes that a person owes, the state credit cannot, Morton said. The state credit, which is 20 percent of the federal credit, is meant to offset or eliminate the taxpayer’s state tax bill.

“In many cases, it does wipe it out,” Morton said. “If it does not wipe it out, then the taxpayer needs to go ahead and pay the difference.”

Taxpayers whose incomes are below federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the Credit for Low Income Individuals. Morton said this credit eliminates a person’s state tax liability.

Morton said she expects to have more people walk into her office this year to get help with their state taxes to see if they are eligible for the credits. Returns are filed electronically in Charlottesville, so taxpayers who do have money coming back to them can get it in seven to 15 days.