CSET Offers Free Income Tax Assisstance Services

For the 16th year, CSET is offering it's volunteer income tax assistance services (VITA), a free service to those with household incomes less than $67,000.

With an army of about a dozen staff and 130 highly trained volunteers, the service generated more than $5 million in refunds for the 4,200 returns submitted last year.

Volunteers, which must undergo 32 hours of training to become certified, provide services at locations throughout Tulare and Kings Counties, including at the seven senior centers managed by CSET.

"CSET provides tax preparation training to folks that want to come in person or by zoom to become VITA certified to provide tax preparation," said Jerel Dutton, assistant director of senior services for CSET. "It's a great program for families."

Free tax assistance is also provided to small business owners who also meet the maximum income threshold.

Although tax questions cannot be answered over the phone, CSET volunteers meet with participants to answer questions and gather the documents needed to prepare the returns.

For more information log on to cset.org/vita or call (559) 741-4640.