Bethpage Federal Credit Union Offers Free Tax Filing Assistance for Eligible Long Islanders

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Jan. 31, 2018 - PRLog -- Bethpage Federal Credit Union will help low-to-moderate income households on Long Island prepare their tax returns at no cost by offering the IRS' free tax preparation service, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).  Now in its 15^th year, the Bethpage VITA program, the largest across Long Island, is open to all eligible Long Islanders, including non-Bethpage members.

Starting February 3, 2018 through April 7, 2018, trained and bilingual tax preparers will be available at Bethpage's Bay Shore, Farmingdale, Hempstead, and Massapequa branches to meet with eligible taxpayers with 2017 incomes of $55,000 and below.  VITA services will be available on Saturday afternoons from 3 PM – 6 PM.  No appointments are necessary.

Additional mobile sites will be available to Long Islanders beginning February 1, 2018. These sites include the Brentwood Public Library, Freeport Public Library, the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury,  the Mastics, Moriches, Shirley Community Library, the United Healthcare Community Plan in Hempstead, Wyandanch Public Library,  Copiague Public Library, and the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach.  Visit Bethpage's "Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program" page located in the Community Section at www.bethpagefcu.com for exact dates and times.

"For 15 years, Bethpage has helped the Long Island community file their tax returns for free, something we are very proud of.  Tax filing assistance can be costly so it has been our great pleasure to spearhead this important initiative," said Robert Suarez, Assistance Vice President of Community Development for Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

This year, over 200 trained volunteers from local colleges and universities will be working one-on-one with taxpayers.  Partnering schools include Adelphi University, Farmingdale State College, Hofstra University, LIU Post, Molloy College, St. Joseph's College, Stony Brook University, SUNY Old Westbury, Touro Law School, Nassau Community College, and Suffolk Community College.

Bethpage VITA volunteers will also educate eligible working families about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) while preparing tax returns. The EITC is an anti-poverty program available to four out of five eligible Long Island households, which can claim up to three years back of Earned Income Tax Credits.

In 2017, Bethpage completed 2,266 VITA tax returns and helped secure IRS total refunds of over $2.6 million.  Bethpage also helped secure $261,929 in child tax credits in 2017, and $677,343 in Earned Income Tax Credits.  Since the program's inception in 2004, over 17,435 individuals have filed their tax returns through Bethpage, resulting in nearly $20,177,039 million returned to the Long Island community.

Qualifying taxpayers planning to take advantage of Bethpage's VITA program need to bring the following materials with them for review: photo identification, social security cards for you, your spouse and dependents, current year's tax package if you received one, wage and earnings statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all employers, interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099), a copy of last year's Federal and State returns if available, bank routing and account numbers for tax refund direct deposit, total paid for daycare, and provider's tax ID.

To file taxes electronically for a joint tax return, both spouses must be present.  For more information on VITA, paperwork needed, and exact dates and times, please visit Bethpage's "Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program" page located under the Community section at www.bethpagefcu.com or call 1-800-628-7070.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a premier community financial institution committed to enriching the lives of its members, employees and the communities it serves for the past 75 years.  Bethpage is the largest credit union in the Northeast Region, as well as 16^th in the nation. Bethpage is a federally chartered credit union open to everyone that opens a $5 minimum share account.  As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers the best-in market rates, low fees and world-class service, and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.

On Long Island, Bethpage maintains branch locations in Albertson, Baldwin, Bay Shore, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Centereach, Central Islip, Commack King Kullen, East Meadow NuHealth Medical Center, East Northport, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown King Kullen, LIU Post (Brookville), Long Beach, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Roosevelt, Seaford, Smithtown, Valley Stream King Kullen, West Babylon, and Westbury.  In New York City, Bethpage maintains a branch location at 111 W 26^th Street.  Bethpage also offers over 500 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations.  For more information on Bethpage's robust portfolio of banking, borrowing, and investment services, visit www.bethpagefcu.com or call 1-800-628-7070.