VITA Information

File Taxes Free

Certified Tax Preparers
prepare & electronically file
your 2024 tax return for FREE.
Both federal & LA returns.

February 5 – April 16
Only Wednesdays
3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Main Southeastern Campus.
Garrett Hall, Room 80
610 S. Ned Mcgehee Dr.

Walk-ins Welcome & Free Parking

File Taxes Free

IRS Certified Volunteers Providing Free Tax Preparation

Eligible Individuals

At the VITA Southeastern site, IRS-certified volunteers provide FREE basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals who generally make $67,000 or less.

VITA Southeastern prepares ONLY 2024 federal and Louisiana state tax returns.

Will Prepare*
  • Wages, salaries, tips, etc. (Form W-2)
  • Interest and dividends (Forms 1099-INT, 1099-DIV)
  • Retirement income (Forms 1099-R, Form SSA-1099, RRB-1099, RRB-1099-R, CSA-1099)
  • Capital gain/loss (Form 1099-B), limited Schedule D
  • State tax refunds and unemployment benefits (Form 1099-G)
  • Self-employed income (Forms 1099-NEC, 1099-K), limited Schedule C
  • Gambling winnings (Form W-2G)
  • Cancellation of debt (Form 1099-C), limited
  • Health savings accounts (Form 1099-SA), limited
  • Adjustments to income and itemized deductions, limited
  • Education credits (Form 1098-T)
  • Premium tax credit (Form 1095-A)
  • Child tax credit, earned income credit, and other miscellaneous credits
  • Application for individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) (Form W-7)
  • Sale of Home (Form 1099-S), limited
  • Prior Year and Amended Returns, limited
  • Foreign students and scholars, limited (select sites only)
What To Bring

We MUST have ALL your required paperwork to start your return, including:

  • Photo ID of taxpayer, and also spouse if married and filing jointly
  • Spouse – if married and filing a joint tax return, both spouses must be present
  • Social Security Cards – for you, your spouse, and dependent(s)
  • Birth Dates – for you, your spouse, and dependent(s)
  • All 2024 Wage & Earning Forms (all W-2, 1099-NEC, W-2G, 1099-R forms)
  • 2024 Unemployment Compensation Form (1099G)
  • 2024 Interest & Dividend Forms (1099-DIV, 1099-INT forms)
  • Total Paid in 2024 for Child Care (must provide provider’s name, address, and tax ID number)
  • For direct deposit of refund, Bank Routing and Account Numbers
  • Form 1095A from the Marketplace for health insurance coverage in 2024
  • Identity Protection Theft Pin Number (IP PIN) – required if IRS assigned it to you
What to Bring
  • For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present
  • Original photo identification such as driver’s license, school, employer, military, or state ID for you and your spouse (if married)
  • Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number documents for you, your spouse, and dependents
  • Birth dates for you, spouse, and dependents
  • A copy of last year’s tax return
  • All Forms W-2 and 1099
  • Form 1095-A, if applicable
  • Information for other income
  • Information for all deductions and credits
  • Total paid to daycare provider and their tax ID number
  • For direct deposit of refund, proof of account and bank’s routing number
  • For prior year returns, copies of income transcripts from IRS (and state, if applicable)

WALK-INS WELCOME, NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

Preparing a tax return takes 60 to 90 minutes.

Appointments are not required. Walk-ins are accepted when volunteer preparers are available. No new returns started after 5:30 p.m.

VITA Southeastern SITE HOURS 

ONLY open on Wednesdays from 3:30pm to 6:00pm

beginning February 5, 2025, until April 16, 2025. 

 

Other VITA sites 

 

VITA Southeastern SITE LOCATION 

On Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus in Garrett Hall room 80. Garrett Hall is located at 610 Ned McGehee Dr., Hammond, LA 70401. (Map link)

During Your Appointment

  1. Sign in and Intake
    1. When you arrive, you will sign in and complete the Intake Form
    2. Certified volunteers will review your Intake Form and documents to verify your eligibility.
  2. Meet with the Preparer
    1. An available volunteer preparer will prepare your tax return.
    2. A quality reviewer will check your tax return for accuracy.
  3. Review & Sign the Tax Return
    1. The preparer will print your tax return.
    2. You will review your tax return and sign form 8879 
  4. Keep your paperwork
    1. You keep all your documentation and your printed tax return.
    2. Southeastern VITA will keep one copy of your signed form 8879  and electronically file your tax return.

FAQs & Info

What If I Earned More Than $67,000?

You may qualify to file your taxes online.

MyFreeTaxes.Com – File for FREE online

MyFreeTaxes.com helps people file their taxes for free while getting the assistance they need. United Way provides MyFreeTaxes in partnership with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help filers prepare their tax returns on their own or have their return prepared for them for free.

Are There Other VITA Sites?

Yes, if you can’t make the VITA Southeastern site on Wednesdays 3:30pm – 6:00pm, find OTHER VITA SITES at UnitedWaySELA.org/VITA or call 211 for assistance.

VITA Southeastern DOES NOT PREPARE THE FOLLOWING

Will Not Prepare*
  • Schedule C with net loss, depreciation or business use of home
  • Complex Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses
  • Forms 8615, 8814 (children’s unearned income)
  • Form SS-8 (determination of worker status for purposes of federal employment taxes and income tax withholding)

*See a volunteer for other items not listed

  • Parts 4 & 5 of Form 8962 (Allocation of Policy Amounts, Alternative Calculation for Year of Marriage)
  • Returns with casualty/disaster losses

Please see a professional preparer for assistance with complicated returns.