BIR Announces The 2020 Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance Program

Joel Lee, CPA, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue announces the resumption of the taxpayer assistance program which provides tax preparation services to the community. This is a free service offered to taxpayers who are filing simple tax returns with the Bureau.

The Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance Program will begin on Saturday, April 24, 2021 and will run until May 15, 2021. Assistance will be provided on St. Croix and St. Thomas only. There will be no assistance on St. John this year. Service will be provided on a first come first serve basis. Due to COVID19 protocols, taxpayers will be asked to wait outside of the Bureau's offices during the preparation of the tax returns.

On St. Thomas, the program will be at the Bureau's office at 6115 Estate Smith Bay, in Red Hook, from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

On St. Croix, the program will be held at the Bureau's office at 4008 Estate Diamond from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

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.