Free Tax Help

NEWS RELEASE

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Public Affairs Office Phone (803) 898-5464

Fax (803) 898-5446

__________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 30, 2003

Free tax help available for low-income, elderly

Low-income families, elderly and handicapped taxpayers can receive free income tax help during the tax season at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites located throughout the state.

The VITA program is co-sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Volunteers trained by the agencies will prepare basic state and federal income tax returns for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay for professional tax service. Many of the VITA tax sites offer electronic filing, meaning taxpayers can receive their state and federal tax refunds in two weeks or less.

While some locations do require appointments, most do not and taxpayers are assisted on a first come – first served basis. Taxpayers should bring all W-2s, dependent information (such as Social Security numbers) and other important tax documents. Some waiting time may be necessary.

Listed below are the state-wide VITA locations, available days, times and dates.

2003 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)

SITES IN SOUTH CAROLINA

AIKEN COUNTY

H. O'Dell Weeks Center January 27 – April 15

1700 Whiskey Road Mondays and Tuesdays

Aiken, SC 29801 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available Wednesdays February 5, 12, 19, & 26

Only

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ANDERSON COUNTY

Anderson County Library February 1 – April 15

300 N. McDuffie Street Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Anderson, SC 29621 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

BEAUFORT COUNTY

Beaufort County Public Library February 4 – April 15

311 Scott Street Tuesdays.

Beaufort, SC 29902 4 – 7 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available Thursdays

1 – 4 p.m.

Hilton Head Public Library February 1 – April 12

Beach City Road Saturdays

Hilton Head Island, SC 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Holy Family Catholic Church February 19 and March 19 Only

Hope Avenue 6 – 9 p.m.

Hilton Head Island, SC

Kappa Alpha Psi By Appointment Only

Beaufort, SC Call 843-524-1180 x 123

Electronic Filing Available

Alpha Phi Alpha By Appointment Only

Beaufort, SC Call 843-524-1180 x 122

Electronic Filing Available

Franciscan Center February 10 – April 7

1 Mattis Road Mondays

St. Helena Island, SC 6 – 8 p.m.

Sun City-Hilton Head February 6 – April 10

Del Webb Boulevard Thursdays Pinckney Hall

Bluffton, SC 29909 8 a.m. – Noon

Activity Desk—Walk-ins taken after Appointments (first-come first-served basis)

Electronic Filing Available

Battery Creek High School For Battery Creek High School

1 Dolphin Drive Students Only

Burton, SC 29902 Contact FBLA Club for Appointment

CLARENDON COUNTY

Wateree Community Action Agency January 29 – April 10

Fleming/Felder Head Start Wednesdays 9 a.m. - Noon

10 Hotel Street Thursdays 9 a.m. - Noon

Alcolu, SC 29001

Wateree Community Action Agency January 31 – April 11

3 West Boyce Street Fridays

Manning, SC 29102 2 – 4 p.m.

CHARLESTON COUNTY

Citadel Mall February 1 – April 12

2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Saturdays

Charleston, SC 29407 l0 a. m. – 2 p.m.

Felix Pinckney Community Center January 31 – April 11

4790 Hassell Street (Off E. Montague) Noon – 4 p.m.

North Charleston, SC 29401

Charleston Downtown Public Library February 4 – April 15

68 Calhoun Street Tuesdays and Thursdays

Charleston, SC 29401 9:30 a.m. – Noon

Electronic Filing Available

John L. Dart Public Library February 5 – April 9

1067 King Street Wednesdays

Charleston, SC 29403 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Regional Library January 30 – April 12

1133 Mathis Ferry Road Thursdays 10 a.m. – Noon

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Saturdays 10 a.m. – Noon

Electronic Filing Available

Northwoods Malls February 1 – April 12

2150 Northwoods Boulevard # 60 Saturdays

North Charleston, SC 29406 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Near Customer Service, Dillard's Wing

Electronic Filing Available

Trident United Way January 21 – April 15

Berkeley Service Center 5 – 8:30 p.m. (Through February)

325 East Main Street March & April Times To Be Announced

Moncks Corner, SC 29461

Electronic Filing Available

Goose Creek Police Department February 1 – April 12

Municipal Center Saturdays 9 a.m. - Noon

Highway 52 Wednesdays 6 – 9 p.m.

Goose Creek, SC 29445

Electronic Filing Available

Baptist Hill HS (To Be Determined)

DARLINGTON COUNTY

Darlington County Community Action Agency January 27 – April 15

Darlington Center Mondays through Fridays

223 Law Plantation Road 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Darlington, SC 29540 Call 843-393-4049 for Appointment.

Electronic Filing Available

Darlington County Community Action Agency January 27 – April 15

904 S. 4th Street Mondays through Fridays

Hartsville, SC 29550 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available Call 843-332-1135 for Appointment.

FLORENCE COUNTY

Florence County Public Library January 29 – April 9

319 S. Irby Street Wednesdays

Florence, SC 29501 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Lake City Public Library February 3 – April 14

221 East Main Street Mondays

Lake City SC 29560 9:30 a.m. – Noon

GREENVILLE COUNTY

Fountain In Community Center February 1 – April 12

610 Fairview Street Fridays

Fountain Inn, SC 29644 1 – 5 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Hillcrest High School February 1 – April 1

3657 S. Industrial Blvd. Students Only by Appointment.

Simpsonville, SC 29682

Greenville Tech – Greer February 1 – April 15

104 Friars Bridge Road, Room 118 Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Greenville, SC 29617 9 a.m. – Noon

Electronic Filing Available

Greer Library February 4 – April 15

505 Pennsylvania Avenue Mondays & Wednesdays

Greer, SC 29650 9 a.m.– Noon & 1 – 5 pm.

Electronic Filing Available

SHARE February 6 – April 9

1200 Pendleton Street Wednesdays

Greenville, SC 29611 9 a.m.- Noon & 2 – 4 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Haywood Estates February 6 – April 9

1100 Haywood Road Residents only by appointment

Greenville, SC 29615

Electronic Filing Available

Senior Action Center February 1 – April 15

120 Vannoy Street Mondays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Greenville, SC 29601 Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. – 5 pm

Electronic Filing Available

Wade Hampton Library February 6 – April 9

3326 Wade Hampton Boulevard Wednesdays

Greenville, SC 29611 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Augusta Road Library February 11 – April 15

3213 Augusta Road Tuesdays

Greenville, SC 29601 Noon – 4 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Sweet Canaan Baptist Church February 1 – April 12

705 Pelzer Highway By Appointment Only

Easley, SC 29642 Call 864-609-8189.

HORRY COUNTY

North Myrtle Beach Library February 6 – April 15

700 2nd Avenue North Thursdays

North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 5 – 8 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Socastee Library February 2 – April 12

4505 Socastee Boulevard Saturdays

Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-7265 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Surfside Library February 5 – April 15

410 Surfside Drive Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Surfside Beach, SC 29587 Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 pm

Electronic Filing Available

Latinos Americanos En Action February 4 – April 14

743 Hemlock Avenue, Building 600 Mondays

Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 5 – 9 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

KERSHAW COUNTY

Antioch Head Start January 28 – April 15

1591 Bishopville Highway Tuesdays

Camden, SC 29020 9 a.m. – Noon

Wateree Community Action Agency January 29 – April 9

637 Rutledge Street Wednesdays 1 – 4 p.m.

Camden, SC 29020 Fridays 9 a.m. – Noon

LEE COUNTY

Bishopville Head Start January 28 – April 15

603 North Main Street Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Bishopville, SC 29010 9 a.m. – Noon

Wateree Community Action Agency January 31 – April 12

613 Highway 15 North Fridays

Bishopville, SC 29010 2 – 4 p.m.

LEXINGTON COUNTY

Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library January 31 - April 11

Conference Room Fridays

1500 Augusta Road 9 a.m. - l p.m.

West Columbia, SC 29169

Electronic Filing Available

OCONEE COUNTY

Oconee County Library – Walhalla February 4 – April 1

501 W. South Broad Street Tuesdays

Walhalla, SC 29691 5 – 9 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Oconee County Library-Westminster Month of February

112 West North Avenue Mondays 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Westminster, SC 29693

Call (864) 647-3215 for Appointment

Electronic Filing Available

Fair Play Presbyterian Church February 1 - April 7

100 Fair Play Church Road Call 864-287-9611 for Appointment

Fair Play, SC 29643

Electronic Filing Available

ORANGEBURG

South Carolina State University February 1 & 15

300 College Street March 1 & 22

School of Business April 5 & 12

Belcher Hall, 3rd Floor Saturdays

Orangeburg, SC 29117 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

PICKENS COUNTY

Easley Center Seniors Unlimited February 1 – April 15

400 Blair Street Mondays & Thursdays

Easley, SC 29640 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Electronic Filing Available

RICHLAND COUNTY

Benedict College February 15 – April 12

ROTC Building Saturdays

2330 Laurel Street 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Columbia, SC 29204

Columbia College February 10 – April 14

Breed Leadership Center (front of fountain) Mondays

Room 210 Noon – 2 p.m.

1301 Columbia College Drive

Columbia, SC 29203

Electronic Filing Available

Columbia Place February 8 – April 12

7201 Two Notch Road Saturdays

Columbia, SC 29223 Noon – 2 p.m.

See Customer Service for Mall Location

S.C. Dept. of Revenue

State Museum Bldg. January 29 – April 9

301 Gervais Street Wednesdays

DOR Human Resources Office 9 a.m. – Noon

Columbia, SC 29201

Electronic Filing Available

SPARTANBURG COUNTY

Piedmont Community Action Agency February 3 – April 14

908 South Church Street Mondays & Wednesdays

Spartanburg, SC 29306 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

SUMTER COUNTY

High Hills AME Church February 8, February 22

Meeting House Road March 1, March 15, March 29

Electronic Filing Available April 5

Saturdays (Indicated Above) 9 a.m. – Noon

Wateree Community Action Agency Jan. 29 – April 9

32 East Liberty Street Wednesdays 2 – 4 p.m.

Sumter, SC 29251 Fridays 2 – 4 p.m.

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church January 28 – April 15

101 South Salem Street 9 a.m. - Noon

Sumter, SC 29150

Rubye J. Johnson Head Start January 31 – April 12

155 Lafayette Boulevard Fridays

Sumber, SC 29150 9 a.m. – Noon, 2 – 4 p.m.

Stateburg Head Start Call (803) 494-2437 for details

200 North Kings Highway

Sumter, SC 29154

YORK COUNTY

Clover Library February 1 – February 15

1 Knox Street Saturdays

Clover, SC 29710 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Leroy Springs Athletic Complex February 1 – March 1

1 Highway 160 Saturdays

Rock Hill, SC 29715 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available

Rock Hill Galleria Mall February 1 – February 22

2301 Dave Lyle Boulevard 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Electronic Filing Available .

Wellness Center January 30 – April 14

Rock Hill City Hall Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

155 Johnson Street 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

City Hall, lst Floor

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Electronic Filing Available

York Technical College February 3 – April 15

452 S. Anderson Road Mondays

Rock Hill, SC 29730 10 a.m. – Noon

Electronic Filing Available

Winthrop University February 21 – April 1

701 Oakland Avenue Fridays

Rock Hill, SC 29733 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Electronic Filing Available