Welcome to Winona VITA

Appointments

All sites are by appointment only. Please call (507) 474-7202 starting January 22, 2025 to make an appointment at one of the following tax sites.

VITA tax preparation procedures will provide maximized safety for clients and volunteers while assuring all standards for the completeness, accuracy and security of your return are achieved.

The VITA INTAKE FORM must be picked up, completed and brought with you to your appointment! Your appointment may be delayed or cancelled if you do not bring the required documentation with you.

Taxpayers need to check in with the VITA Greeter when arriving at Winona Volunteer Services, La Crescent or St. Charles.

The Intake Process is conducted at a station separate from the tax preparers.

Taxpayers are asked to wait in the waiting area during tax preparation and review, which may take as long as 45 to 75 minutes.

When the return is completed and reviewed, the taxpayer will be summoned to the reviewer’s station for summary discussion and signatures.

Qualifications

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is sponsored by the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue. Income limits apply as follows:

VITA Income Limit (Adjusted Gross Income plus untaxed investment income)
Dependents (student working but a dependent for parents) $35,000
Single (no dependents) $45,000
Family size 2 (married couple or single with one dependent) $55,000
Family size 3 or more $65,000

To find out if you are eligible for the free tax service, look at your 2023 tax returns and find the 1040 IRS form, Line 11 Page 1. If your adjusted gross income falls within the guidelines above and your income has not significantly increased, you are eligible to have your taxes done free at our tax site.

Additional instructions will be given when you call for an appointment.

Your appointment may be delayed or cancelled if you do not bring the required documentation with you. Client(s) must be present during the preparation of their tax return, which may take between 45 to 75 minutes.

Tax preparation procedures will provide maximized safety for clients and volunteers while assuring all standards for the completeness and accuracy of returns.

VITA Tax Site Locations

Winona

  • Winona Volunteer Services

    402 East 2nd St. (2nd St. Entrance)

  • February 3 – April 12
  • Mondays
    4:00PM – 7:00PM

    Tuesdays & Wednesdays
    8:30AM – 11:30AM
    12:30PM – 3:30PM

    Saturdays
    9:00AM – Noon

St. Charles

  • Community Center
    830 Whitewater Ave.

  • February 13 – April 10
  • Thursdays
    1:00PM – 4:00PM

La Crescent

  • Public Library
    321 Main St.

  • February 20 – April 10
  • Thursdays
    9:00AM – Noon

What to Bring to your Appointment

  • Current Driver’s License or other form of picture ID

  • Social security card(s) for each member of your family (Medicare card is NOT acceptable)

  • Last year’s tax forms are very helpful to ensure everything is reported

  • If you received SSI or other assistance, be sure to bring evidence of what you received in 2024

  • W-2 forms from every employer you worked for in 2024

  • Unemployment compensation statements for 2024

  • Social Security report, SSA 1099, mailed to you in January 2025 (has a pink box with income for 2024 inside)

  • Interest and dividend statements from your banks or other institutions (1099 INT and 1099 DIV)
  • Dependent care provider information if you use day care etc. for children or older adults
  • Bring ALL 1099 forms (B, DIV, INT, K, MISC, NEC, R etc.) and all other 2024 income sources. If your brokerage statement has more than 6 buy/sell transactions, we will not be able to help you

  • If you have healthcare insurance through the marketplace bring form 1095A
  • If you have a small business, you must have less than $5,000 in expenses. You cannot have any inventory or depreciation. Be sure you bring evidence of income/expenses involved with the business
  • Tuition forms supplied by your college must be able to support expenses against scholarships (1098T)
  • Any receipts for school supply purchases, K-12, that may be deducted on state taxes
  • Charitable contributions may be deductible even if you do not itemize. Bring totals ONLY for cash and non-cash contributions. Keep individual receipts for your records, don’t bring them with you.
  • Property Tax Refund:
    -If you rent a house, apartment, house or mobile home, bring all your CRP’s for rent paid in 2024
    -If you own your own home (primary residence), bring your 2025 Property Tax Statement, which arrives in late March
    -If you already filed your income tax return with VITA, call us when you receive your 2025 statement and we will file for your refund without requiring another appointment
    -If you own your mobile home, we will NOT be able to file for your refund. Those statements arrive in July and you will have to file for the refund yourself

  • If you wish to have your refund directly deposited into your account, bring the bank name, routing number and account number for your checking or savings account