By RUSTY MARKS
The State Journal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Concerns over the state budget have prompted West Virginia Tax Commissioner Dale Steager to cut back public services offered to walk-in customers at state tax department locations.
Tax department employees will no longer be able to prepare state tax returns for walk-in customers under the restructuring, according to tax department spokeswoman Lalena Price.
Price said taxpayers needing help on their Personal Income Tax returns still have options for free tax preparation through a number of nonprofit organizations such as VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly). In West Virginia these IRS-sanctioned programs are provided through the West Virginia Alliance for Sustainable Families, United Way and AARP.
“Regardless of how we got here, we truly believe taxpayers will be better served by having one of these organizations prepare their returns,” Steager said.
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