Bigger and Better Business

The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., believes that the improvement and economic conditions of minorities is a major fact in the improvement of the general welfare of society. It is upon this conviction that the Bigger and Better Business Program rests.

Since 1926, the Bigger and Better Business Program has been sponsored on a national scale by Phi Beta Sigma as a way of supporting, fostering, and promoting minority-owned businesses and services.

Bigger and Better Business Program Initi

V.I.T.A. Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program

The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program is a community service program of the Internal Revenue Service. The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $57,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities.

They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. (www.irs.gov)

Since 2008, the focus of Phi Beta Sigma’s VITA Partnership program has evolved to promoting tax understanding and awareness, preparing complimentary tax returns for low-to-moderate income individuals, and encouraging personal asset building and self-sufficiency through tax incentives.

To help facilitate these objectives, the Rho Kappa Sigma Alumni Chapter is providing a list of local VITA/TCE sites where low-income families can go to get their taxes prepared for free, links to the IRS Free File Program and local locations that are sponsored by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. Please visit each option to get more information.

IRS File Free

The IRS Free File Program is a public-private partnership between the IRS and many tax preparation and filing software industry leaders who provide their brand-name products for free. It provides two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free: Traditional IRS Free File and Free File Fillable Forms.

Click here for more information: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs

While the IRS manages the VITA and TCE programs, the VITA/TCE sites are managed by IRS partners and staffed by their volunteers who want to make a difference in their communities. The IRS-certified volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.

Click here to find VITA/TCE sites in your area: VITA/TCE Locator Tool: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides virtual and in-person tax assistance free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over the age of 50 or have low-to-moderate income.

Click here to find AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator sites in your area:

https://secure.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action