The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is being offered at the Pike County Extension Office on South Three Notch Street in Troy.

The VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, people with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance.

Volunteers who are IRS-certified, provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

Heath Wesley, Pike County Extension coordinator, said Troy University professor Dena Mitchell and her accounting students are at the Pike County Extension Office during specified hours to help individuals with their tax preparation.

The VITA hours are from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, from 9 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Fridays. The VITA program service is closed on Wednesdays.

“We encourage anyone who qualifies for this program to stop by our office and take advantage of this free service,” Wesley said. “We are thankful to Dena Mitchell and her students for volunteering their time and efforts to make this program a success each year.”

The VITA grant program is an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation service for the underserved through various partner organizations. IRS awards matching funds to these support organizations that offer free tax preparation services.