Montgomery County VITA program offers free tax help through Oct. 28; eligibility, hours and contact info

Eduardo Méndez, a specialist with the Montgomery County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program under the county Department of Health and Human Services, told listeners the free service helps eligible residents file current and prior-year tax returns and offers assistance in multiple languages.

Why it matters: VITA provides no-cost, certified tax-preparation help that can reduce costly mistakes and help residents claim credits. Méndez said the program can file multiple past years for qualifying residents and that the service is available to county residents who meet the program’s income limits and documentation requirements.

Key details provided on air: - Deadline and hours: Méndez said VITA assistance at the county site runs through Oct. 28. He gave office hours for in-person appointments as Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and provided a Rockfield Pike office location (1401 Rockfield Pike, 3rd floor, suite 320) for walk-ins or scheduled visits. - Contact: Méndez supplied a local contact number for appointments and inquiries (as spoken on-air). - Eligibility and documents: Méndez repeatedly stated an income threshold of about $69,000 when describing who qualifies and listed required IDs and, for taxpayers without Social Security numbers, an IRS ITIN letter for dependents or spouses. The host later restated a different figure, saying assistance is available to residents earning "less than $60,000," creating a discrepancy in the interview that listeners should confirm with program staff. - Scale and language access: Méndez said the program completed about 2,479 returns this year across multiple sites and that staff speak Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian and other languages to serve the county’s diverse residents.

Méndez encouraged residents to make appointments when possible and to bring required documentation (IDs, ITIN letters if applicable, income statements including 1099s for contract workers, and routing/account numbers for direct-deposit of refunds). He noted the program has operated in the county for more than four decades.

Because the on-air interview included two different income figures (approximately $69,000 and a separate statement of $60,000), Méndez advised residents to call the program to confirm eligibility and appointment availability. The broadcast also directed listeners to Montgomery County’s website for Spanish-language information and to call 3-1-1 for county assistance.

The segment closed with the host thanking Méndez and urging eligible listeners to take advantage of the free service before appointments become scarce in October.