Tax deadline approaching

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Tax season is in full swing and time is ticking to get your taxes filed before the April 15th deadline.

Fresno resident Marvin Torres is happy to have someone doing his taxes during one of the busiest times of the year.

Torres said, "Waiting for all of your W2s and waiting to see if you have everything in check, it gets stressful but you have to do what you have to do."

Torres was one of the many who got his paperwork filed for free at Fresno County's VITA service in Downtown Fresno.

Mary Ronell said, "Our VITA volunteers who are all IRS prepare an accurate tax return here and it's walk in, first come first serve. We help assist taxpayers who earn $58,000 and below."

Ronell is the VITA lead for the United Way of Fresno County. Eligible taxpayers who want to file just need to go online through the IRS or call 2-1-1 to find a local site. Before they head out they will need their ID, social security card and documents. With the deadline approaching, officials say taxpayers should give themselves plenty of time in case any issues come up.

"This year with the American affordable care act, there has been a lot of issues with forms coming in incorrectly from Sacramento," said Ronell. "And so we've had a lot of taxpayers that have been getting letters from IRS and having to contact the marketplace for letters."

Experts say you should make time to file now, so you're not waiting in longer lines on tax day. And for local residents like Marvin Torres, they're hoping their hard work pays off in a nice tax return.

The United Way of Fresno County will host a free event Friday afternoon and several tax sites are planned for Saturday.