BIR AND UVI ANNOUNCE THE 2019 VOLUNTEER TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Joel Lee, CPA, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Mr. Francisco Depusoir, Chair of Accounting and Finance Department of the University of the Virgin Islands, announce the continued partnership that allows accounting students of the University of the Virgin Islands to provide a great community service to taxpayers. The Bureau's audit staff and the UVI students will help taxpayers with the filing of their 2019 income tax returns. This is a free service offered to taxpayers who are filing simple tax returns with the Bureau. The Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance Program will start on all three islands on Saturday, February 22, 2020 and will run until April 4, 2020, with the exception of Saturday, March 14, 2020. Assistance will be provided on a first come first serve basis. On St. Thomas, the program will be at the Bureau's office at 6115 Estate Smith Bay, in Red Hook, across the street from the Red Hook dock from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. On St. Croix, the program will be held at the Bureau's office at 4008 Estate Diamond from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. On St. John, the program will be held from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. at the Bureau's office at the Motor Vehicle Bureau in Cruz Bay. Taxpayers should have available a valid ID, as well as all W-2VIs, 1099Rs (Retirement Income), other Form 1099s (Interest and Other Income), and Form SSA (Social Security Income) readily available when they arrive at the office. Please also walk with birth certificates and social security cards for dependents being claimed on the tax return. There will be no preparation for Form 1040NR or any returns with Schedule C.

Please refer questions about the Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance Program to Perpetua Cranston on St. Croix at 773-1040, extension 4233, and to Clifford Charleswell on St. Thomas and St. John at 715-1040, extension 2271.

Director Lee reminds the taxpaying public that it is against the law for any Bureau of Internal Revenue employee to charge fees for preparation of a tax return. Any taxpayer who can provide proof of payment to a Bureau of Internal Revenue employee for the preparation of tax returns is asked to call Director Lee at (340) 773-1040, ext. 4223 to report this violation.