By Sara Duris
There are two free tax preparation programs for older adults and low-income individuals to take advantage of this tax season. Both the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and AARP Tax Volunteer programs are available now through the end of March, with some programs open until Tax Day, April 15.
If you made less than $69,000 in 2025 and need assistance in preparing your tax return, the VITA trained volunteers will prepare basic federal and state tax returns, as well as homestead property tax credit and home heating credit, for low-income individuals, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Complex tax returns and those involving business pursuits need to be completed through a tax preparation service.
Berrien and Cass Counties: VITA will offer tax preparation for qualifying residents of Berrien and Cass Counties only. Locations are available in Benton Harbor, Niles, Stevensville, Cassopolis, and Dowagiac. The address of your location will be given when making the appointment. These are in-person appointments and clients must remain at the location during tax preparation, so please plan accordingly. Request an appointment by calling 269-934-3717. Please leave only ONE voice mail message if the line is not answered. All voice mail messages will be returned.
Van Buren County: Sites are open February and March 2026, for all qualifying Van Buren County residents, at the two locations noted below. Note that South Haven has a different phone number to call for an appointment.
- Paw Paw, by appointment only, no walk-ins. The address for the appointment location will be given when the appointment is made. This will be to drop-off tax materials only, with return in approximately two weeks for review and pick-up. Drop-offs will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 6pm, February 3 to March 26. To make an appointment, call 269-934-3717.
- South Haven Senior Services, 8337 M-140, South Haven, Wednesdays only, by appointment only, 9:00am to 3:00pm, from February 4 to March 25. Call 269-468-9410 to make an appointment.
There are also some VITA sites available in Kalamazoo and South Bend, but individuals should contact those sites to make sure your taxes can be prepared there. To search for VITA sites online, go to freetaxassistance.for.irs.gov/s/sitelocator or call 800-906-9887.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program provides tax assistance free of charge to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older or who have low to moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Check for updated information and availability at www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp-taxaide/ or call 888-227-7669.
Many of the Berrien County Senior Centers are offering appointments including Buchanan Area, Central County, Greater Niles Area, North Berrien, River Valley, and St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Centers. Appointments are for residents 60+ in that Center’s service area. Contact your local senior center to learn more. Additionally, Cass County Council on Aging, Cassopolis, will be offering services. Call (269) 445-8110 for info on Cass County Council on Aging’s tax services.
Finally, if you are computer savvy and/or you do not qualify for VITA, you can file both state and federal taxes online at www.myfreetaxes.com. This free and safe online service is also provided by United Way and open to anyone that earns $89,000 or less. The site includes live tax support, via email, chat or phone, to answer any questions you have. The main Helpline is also available at 866-698-9435, from 10am to 8pm ET, daily, until April 18.
Area Agency on Aging’s Info Line for Aging and Disability will try to assist with information about tax preparation in our area as it becomes available, so you can call 800-654-2810 as well.
Important Tax Information from the Social Security Administration
Replacing your annual Benefit Statement is easier this year and there’s no need to wait on the phone or make an appointment to visit a Social Security office.
The Social Security Benefit Statement is also known as the SSA-1099 or the SSA-1042S. It is a tax form mailed, every January, to individuals receiving Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits received in the previous year, so individuals know how much Social Security income to report to the IRS on their tax return.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments aren’t taxed. If SSI is the only payment received from Social Security, they will not send a Benefit Statement.
If an individual misplaces their SSA-1099/SSA-1042S or didn’t receive the form in January, one can get a replacement online by signing in to a personal my Social Security account. Select the “Replace Your Tax Form SSA-1099/SSA-1042S” link. Go to the “Choose a year” dropdown menu. Choose from any of the past 6 years for which benefits were paid and select the “Download” link.
A replacement for the most recent tax year is available beginning February 1. Individuals can instantly view and print the SSA-1099/SSA-1042S or save each document on their computer or laptop or email it.
If individuals do not have access to the internet or cannot create an account, they have the option to use Social Security’s automated phone services to request a replacement SSA-1099/SSA-1042S (if living in the U.S.) These automated services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 1-800-772-1213. When you hear “How can I help you today?” say “1099″.
Sara Duris is the Professional Referral Specialist on the Information & Access Team at Region IV Area Agency on Aging. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.