Joel Lee, CPA, director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has announced the reinstatement of the taxpayer assistance program. The bureau’s audit staff will help taxpayers with the filing of their 2021 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, Feb. 26 and will run until April 9. Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The due date to file tax returns is April 19, 2022.
On St. Thomas, the program will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at BIR’s office at 6115 Estate Smith Bay, Red Hook, across the street from the Red Hook dock.
On St. Croix, the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BIR’s office at 4008 Estate Diamond.
On St. John, the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BIR’s office at the Motor Vehicle Bureau in Cruz Bay.
Taxpayers should have available a valid ID, as well as all W-2VIs, Letter 6419 (Notice of Advance Child Tax Credit Payments), 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 in 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, ext. 4233 or to Clifford Charleswell on St. Thomas and St. John at 715-1040, ext. 2271.
The bureau will be adhering to all COVID-19 protocols. Taxpayers will have to wear masks and maintain the required distancing when seeking assistance at the bureau’s offices.
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 BIR employee for the preparation of tax returns is asked to call Director Lee at 773-1040, ext. 4223 to report this violation.
