LTC to Offer Free Tax Return Preparation in new Manitowoc Location
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/23/2013
CLEVELAND, WI —
Lakeshore Technical College will be providing assistance to lower income taxpayers by preparing tax returns for free at the LTC – Manitowoc site, located in same building as Manitowoc County Job Center. The program is made possible through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) project which is run under the oversight of the IRS. In order to qualify for participation in this program individuals must be a legal U.S. resident, earned all 2012 income in Wisconsin and have a household income under $51,000.
The VITA program is also available at the LTC Cleveland campus as well as the Salvation Army in Sheboygan. The LTC Cleveland campus will be open on Mondays from 4:30 – 8:00 p.m. from January 28 through April 8, except for March 25 and April 1. The LTC - Manitowoc site will be open on each Saturday beginning January 26 through April 6, excluding March 23 and 30, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The Salvation Army site will be open on Tuesdays from 5-9pm and Saturdays from 9:30am – 2:00pm beginning January 26th. Reservations are required for all dates and can be made by calling 920.693.1398.
The local VITA program started in January 2005 with 125 tax returns prepared by Lakeland College accounting students. In 2007, Lakeshore Technical College partnered with Lakeland students to meet the expanding community need. During the 2012 tax season, this partnership performed over 2,000 hours of community service by preparing 900 returns and generating $1.4 million in refunds. There is no charge for preparing or e-filing Federal or State tax returns and volunteers cannot accept any type of compensation for their assistance.
In addition to the traditional VITA approach of preparing returns for taxpayers, LTC will be offering a Facilitated Self Assistance (FSA) option to taxpayers at the Manitowoc site. This option is for those individuals interested in using the computers at the site and preparing their own tax return while having the availability to ask questions from certified on-site tax specialists as needed. The Federal and State returns can then be printed and e-filed for free from the VITA site. This option is in partnership with the United Way and requires a valid email address.
Informational brochures are available at the LTC Student Services desk or at the Manitowoc County Job Center.
About Lakeshore Technical College
Each year more than 10,000 people enroll in courses at Lakeshore Technical College. They rely on LTC for job preparation, to earn a degree, upgrade a specialized skill, train as an apprentice, or seek a high school equivalency. LTC faculty and staff meet students where they are in life and help them get one step closer to achieving their goals.
LTC is a nationally recognized technical college. The college was ranked the #2 two-year college in the nation for adult learners by Washington Monthly, the #17 trade school in the nation by Forbes, #11 in the nation for two-year college educational outcomes by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college for the fifth consecutive time by the Aspen Institute, and a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist.
Approximately 800 students graduate from LTC each year, and LTC’s associate degree graduates earn a median salary of $47,800* per year. In addition to the Cleveland campus, LTC serves students in Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and offers classes at additional sites throughout the district. Visit LTC at gotoltc.edu.
*Source: 2019 LTC Graduate Outcomes report, 795 graduates contacted to complete the survey; 508 graduates or 64% completed the survey.
