Many Lakes Area Residents can Receive Free Tax Preparation and Filing

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Tax season is here and for many in the Lakes Area, free tax preparation and filing is available at MAHUBE-OTWA.

The filing deadline this year is April 18, and the MAHUBE-OTWA Volunteer Income Tax Aid (VITA) Program helps area residents complete their federal, state and local tax forms at no cost.

Free tax preparation assistance is offered to all residents who have low to moderate income, with a special sensitivity to serving senior and disabled clients and rural residents.

The program has become so popular that MAHUBE-OTWA has opened an additional service called FSA Remote. FSA Remote allows taxpayers to file both a free federal and state tax return (up to three state returns). Taxpayers can prepare their own return from anywhere they have access to technology and an internet connection.

“It’s intended for households with an adjusted gross incomes of $73,000 or less, but unlike advertisements for other free tax software this one actually is,” said Lisa Mistic with MAHUBE-OTWA.

MAHUBE-OTWA has helped Lakes Area residents claim more than $1 million in tax refunds since the program began.