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

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Jan. 26, 2016 - PRLog -- For the 13th year, Bethpage Federal Credit Union will help low- to moderate-income households on Long Island prepare their tax returns at no cost. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program,  is offered through 12 of Bethpage’s designated branch locations including Bay Shore, Central Islip, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Hempstead, Massapequa, Patchogue, Riverhead, Roosevelt, West Babylon and Westbury.

VITA services will be available on Saturday afternoons starting February 6th through April 9th.  No appointments needed. Over 300 IRS certified volunteers, including bilingual taxpayer assistants, will be available to meet with eligible taxpayers with 2015 incomes of $55,000 and below to file tax returns.  Bethpage’s VITA Program is open to all eligible Long Islanders, including non-Bethpage members.

As part of its VITA program, the largest across Long Island, Bethpage will also partner again with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island to educate eligible working families about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), an anti-poverty program available to four out of five eligible Long Island households.  Eligible households can claim up to three years back of Earned Income Tax Credits.

“Last year, 27 million taxpayers claimed more than $65 billion in the earned income tax credit. This was due largely to the presence of VITA sites throughout local communities.  Bethpage’s VITA sites were the most successful and impactful sites for Long Islanders—helping working families access the credits that they were eligible to receive,” states Gwen O’Shea, President and CEO, Health & Welfare Council of Long Island.  “HWCLI commends Bethpage Federal Credit Union for their stellar VITA leadership over the past decade. Their efforts have put millions in the pockets of Long Islanders and in the Long Island economy.”

“Every year, we’re thankful to see more and more Long Island families taking advantage of our free tax filing program which families can easily access at any of the 12 Bethpage branches across both Nassau and Suffolk Counties ,” said Robert Suarez, Assistant Vice President, Bethpage Federal Credit Union.  “We thank all of our volunteers who make this program possible.  The majority of who are trained accounting, finance and business students from local partnering colleges and universities.”  This year’s volunteers include students from NYIT, SUNY Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, Touro Law School, LIU Post, Briarcliffe, and Stony Brook University.”

In 2015, Bethpage completed 2,516 VITA tax returns and helped secure IRS total refunds of nearly $2.8 million.  Bethpage also helped secure $344,991 back in child tax credits in 2015 and $713,557 in Earned Income Tax Credits, with the average credit being $8,293.  Since the program’s inception in 2004, more than 12,500 individuals have filed their tax returns through Bethpage, resulting in nearly $15 million given back to Long Islanders.

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 and paperwork needed, 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 not-for-profit cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks. Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and is now the largest credit union in the Northeast region and Long Island’s primary community financial institution with 275,000 members, 33 full service branches and more than 60 shared branches throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. 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.

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 with over 500 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations throughout Long Island. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.bethpagefcu.com.