Warm, dry and breezy afternoon after a comfortable morningEvent held in Naples for National Crime Victims Week
Filing taxes can be a bit overwhelming, but a new Southwest Florida based program helps clients breathe easier. United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is a free filing service available to families and individuals making under $66,000, according to their website. “In the past I always went to a professional like H&R block and it was more expensive and more time consuming,” client Tama Smith said. “It just makes it so easy and they’re just wonderful people.” The IRS sponsors the VITA and clients can file their taxes online or make an appointment. “I can typically do a normal return in 30 minutes or less,” said George Wondolowski, VITA Volunteer. But there are a few exceptions to the program. “We typically do not do rental properties,” Wondolowski said. “We do not do very sophisticated barter and exchange agreements if you have a broker. But self-employed people, we do a lot of those.” The Estero location filed nearly 700 returns last year, with over $900,000 in refunds. For more information, click here. Here are the proposed site locations for 2018: Bonita United Way House (Open Feb 5) 26820 Old 41 Rd Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239-357-4024 From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Tuesday Bonita Springs Assistance Office 25300 Bernwood Dr. Ste. 6 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239-992-3034 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Cape Coral –Water’s Edge Church 2213 Country Club Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33990 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Clewiston United Way House 969 W. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-2774 Call for appointment Estero/San Carlos United Way House 17592 Rockefeller Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33967 239-267-0895 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday Englewood – Lemon Bay H.S. (Open Feb. 8) 2201 Placida Rd. Englewood, FL 34224 941-627-3539 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday Fort Myers Downtown – City of Palms Park 2201 Edison Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901 (Entrance on 2305 Broadway, 3rd Floor) 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Fort Myers United Way House – The Heights Center (Open Feb. 5) 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908 239-482-7706 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday Lee County Health Department 83 Pondella Rd., North Fort Myers, FL 33903 239-461-6100 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday LaBelle United Way House 133 North Bridge Street, LaBelle, FL 33935 239-433-7559 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday Lehigh United Way House 201 Plaza Drive, Suite 103, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 239-369-5818 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Port Charlotte- United Way Office (Open Feb 6) 17831 Murdock Circle, Suite A, Port Charlotte, FL 33948 941-627-3539 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Sanibel-Captiva United Way House (Open Feb 9) 2430-B Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957 239-472-4775 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Select Fridays