Tax Help

Volunteers who are IRS-certified will be able to assist in preparing your taxes alongside you. This is a free service available to Olmsted and Dodge county residents who meet the eligibility requirements below. You must complete an intake packet before your appointment. 

To learn more about this program, read our blog post, VITA 101: Through Dave's Eyes!

Property Tax and Renter Rebate only appointments: We are asking that you please wait until mid-March to schedule as you must have your 'Certificate of Rent Paid' form or your 'Property Tax Statement Payable' at the time of your appointment. The deadline for filing the MN Rent Rebate/Property Tax forms in August 15, so we would like to keep all earlier appointments available for income tax filers. 

We are not able to recommend any other tax preparation services. Thank you for your understanding. 

Eligibility Information

You are not eligible for this program if ANY of the following are true:

• Your adjusted gross income is in excess of $80,000
• You own rental property (ie, you are the landlord)
• You had small business income that has any of the following:
  • employees
  • payments to independent contractors
  • a loss for the year
  • you maintain inventory
  • total expenses over $35,000
  • hobby or "not-for-profit" income
  • business use of home
  • depreciation
• You were not a full year resident of MN for tax purposes
• You have military income (excluding a military pension) 
• You had non-cash charitable contribution of over $500
• You had a Self-employed SEP, SIMPLE or qualified plan
• You had nondeductible IRAs
• You were a nonresident alien who does not meet the green card or substantial presence test and are not married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien
• You were a student on an F, J, M, or Q Visa or a teacher or trainee on a J Visa 
• You, or your personal representative, is unable to come to the tax site

The above is a list of most common out-of-scope items but is not necessarily exhaustive.

The above is a partial list of areas we are not trained in. If you have an unusual item, please note the item when you schedule your appointment. You can also see this IRS video for other filing options.

Appointment Information

• Appointment scheduling will begin mid-January for appointments beginning February 1.
• Please call 211 or 800-543-7709 to schedule an appointment.
• 211 is available for appointment scheduling 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year, in 100 different languages. 
• Interpreters are available. 
• No same-day appointments. 

Preparing for your appointment... 

1. Appointments are 45 minute slots, but your appointment can take up to 3 hours. Please arrive at the appointment site on time and fully prepared. You are encouraged to wear a mask but it is not required at VITA sites.

2. Taxpayers can pick up intake packets at one of the following locations: 

• Salvation Army - 115 1st Ave NE, at the "Red Building" different from the appointment site

• 125 Live - inside the upper-level front door when the building is open

• Bethel Lutheran Church - In the main lobby when the building is open

• Mantorville Senior Citizen Center - there will be a container in front of the building

• Stewartville Center for Active Adults - inside the north entry door to the Center for Active Adults when the building is open

• Dodge Center Public Library

2. Intake forms should be filled out before you come to the appointment, if you have NOT gotten an intake packet, you must arrive at their appointment at least 15 minutes early to fill out all necessary paperwork required to be prepared for your appointment

3. Most taxes will be done on the same day. If not, you will need to make another appointment 

What to bring to your appointment:

Checklists:

• What to Bring (English)
• Liiska Diyaarinta Canshuurta/What to Bring (Somali)
• Lista para la preparación de impuestos/What to Bring (Spanish)

VITA's list of what to bring to your appointment:

• Completed Intake forms (One set of forms for each tax year being filed)
• Photo ID for you (and spouse, if applicable)
• Last year’s tax return (or most recent return filed)
• Social security or ITIN (tax ID #) cards for all in family EXCEPT...
  • In the event that VITA did your return last year and all family members are listed on that return.
• Check or card/statement from bank listing routing number and account number to use for direct deposit of refund.
• W-2s and any tip information 
• 1099-SSA – has pink box showing total social security amount received for the year before Medicare subtraction (if lost, call 877-405-3631 to obtain); this document can also serve as SSN verification 
• 1099-INT or bank statement showing 2023 interest when less than $10
• 1099-DIV – dividends received during the year 
• 1099-R – IRA or pension retirement income for the year 
• 1099-G – unemployment compensation received 
• 1098-T – Scholarship Income
• 1095-A - Health Insurance information when purchased through MN Sure
• Charitable contributions made during the year
• If a homeowner who wants to itemize deductions on federal return – bring taxes paid, medical expenses paid and health insurance paid. 
• Documentation of any other income of any kind received during the year  
• Closing statement if bought or sold a home
• Any letter from the IRS or MN Department of Revenue

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If filing for MN rent rebate or homestead credit refund, bring the following:

• 2023 Certificate of Rent Paid forms received from landlord 
• Property tax statement for taxes payable in 2024 (if a homeowner) 
• Documentation of total of nontaxable income received during the tax year, such as the following:  
  • SSI (Supplemental Security Income); if don’t have a letter showing total for tax year, go to Social Security office (2443 Clare Ln NE) or call 877-405-3631 to have a letter mailed to you 
  • County cash assistance: if lost the letter they send in January showing the total of cash benefits received during the year, call county case worker for a copy 
  • Veterans Benefits 
• If a homeowner, bring information about the income of other person living in home (unless they are a dependent or parent) 

A list of these items can also be found on the SE Minnesota VITA website: https://www.semntaxes.org/taxpayers/required-documents