In its continuing mission to support the needs of the community, Hedberg Public Library (HPL) will be a host site and community partner for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program beginning in February 2026. The VITA program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and many individual states, including Wisconsin, under which volunteers trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) assist eligible individuals with preparing basic income tax returns for free.
“Public libraries have always been a resource for the community, and the VITA program is another layer of service we can facilitate for the Janesville community,” says Amy Christian, Programming Librarian at HPL. “We are excited to partner with the IRS to provide this program for the upcoming tax season to help individuals file their taxes accurately and efficiently.”
VITA income tax assistance is available for:
• Low-to-moderate income individuals
• Individuals with disabilities
• Non-English-speaking taxpayers
• Military personnel
• Senior individuals
• Individuals who qualify for the homestead credit or the earned income credit
All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing.
Hedberg Public Library is currently seeking volunteers who have worked in the accounting field or individuals willing to learn about the accounting/tax field to provide the foundation for this community program. Online training for approved volunteers will be provided through the library and IRS later this year.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer for the VITA tax program at Hedberg Public Library may contact the library at 608-758-6600 to speak with Amy Christian or Laura Gest.
To learn more about VITA and other IRS programs, visit www.irs.gov.