OLEAN N.Y., Jan. 27, 2025 – The United Way of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties is pleased to announce the availability of free basic tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the 2024 tax season.
This initiative aims to assist eligible individuals and families in accurately filing their tax returns and maximizing their refunds.
The VITA program, in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), offers free tax preparation assistance to:
- Households with an annual income of $67,000 or less
- Persons with disabilities
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers
- Individuals aged 60 and above with questions about pensions and retirement
Several VITA sites will operate across Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties. Services are available by appointment only at the following locations:
Allegany County Office for the Aging
For taxpayers aged 55 and older
Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 3 PM, February 5 – April 14 (closed on February 17)
Location: Crossroads Center, 6087 State Route 19N, Belmont
Appointments: Call 585-268-9390 or toll-free 1-866-268-9390
Houghton University
Open to all eligible taxpayers
Schedule: Mondays from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, February 3 – April 7
Appointments: Email elianna.mchenry@houghton.edu or call 585-567-9447
United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties
Open to all eligible taxpayers
Schedule: Fridays from 4 PM to 7 PM and Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM on February 21, 22; March 21, 22, 28, and 29
Location: United Way, 99 N. Main St., Wellsville, NY 14895
Appointments: Call 716-372-3620
Olean Public Library
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP)
For taxpayers who earned $84,000 or less in 2024
Schedule: By appointment only; booking begins in March
Details: To be announced
Taxpayers are advised to bring the following documents to their appointments:
- Social Security card
- Photo identification
- Bank account information (routing and account numbers) for direct deposit
- Previous year's federal and New York State tax returns
- Identity Protection PIN (if applicable)
- All relevant income documents (e.g., W-2s, 1099s)
To qualify for VITA services, individuals must have an income of $67,000 or less for the 2024 tax year, among other criteria. For a comprehensive list of qualifications and required documents, please visit the United Way's VITA webpage at https://www.uwcac.org/vita.
The United Way encourages eligible community members to take advantage of these free tax preparation services to ensure accurate and timely filing of their tax returns. For more information, visit www.uwcac.org/vita.
The United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties brings people together to build strong communities where everyone thrives. They tackle tough challenges and work with private, public, and nonprofit partners to boost education, economic solutions, and health resources.
