Today marks the first official day of the tax season, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is back to offer free federal and state income tax preparation and filing for qualifying Connecticut residents. United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, The Village for Families & Children and Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA) are continuing their partnership to help residents prepare and file their taxes at no charge. The VITA campaign is designed to help individuals and families get ahead financially, pay down debt and work toward saving for the future.
“For 100 years, United Way volunteers have shown up for our community in so many different ways. What makes VITA unique is that it offers hundreds of volunteers with a meaningful volunteer experience in our community while simultaneously providing an opportunity for thousands of hardworking adults and families to claim the tax credits and refunds they have earned. The volunteers drive the success of the campaign and we are immensely grateful,” shared Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.
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VITA volunteers are IRS-certified, taking and passing tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information; and, identifying tax credits and refunds filers are eligible for.
“We also are extremely proud of and grateful for the strong, long-standing partnerships with The Village and HRA of New Britain who join our United Way in making VITA available to central and northeastern Connecticut residents. Together, we are closing gaps and creating opportunities for people to achieve financial stability,” added Harrison.
“VITA not only saves people on tax prep but it helps them access thousands of dollars in tax refunds. That money is crucial for paying rent, buying groceries, car repairs and other costs. With new tax relief measures in place in Connecticut—including an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit—this year’s VITA initiative is more important than ever,” said Hector Glynn, President & CEO at The Village for Families & Children.
Taxpayers are eligible to have their taxes prepared and filed for free through VITA if:
- Their annual household income is up to $64,000;
- Their business expenses are less than $35,000 if self-employed;
- They do not have income from a rental property;
- They are a person with a disability; and/or;
- They speak limited English and need assistance.
“The VITA program can make tax filing easy and help you get $2,000 or more in your pockets. In a city with a median income of $37,000, that makes a huge difference for many of our residents,” shared Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “For our residents who make under $64,000, getting tax help through the VITA program is free and easy: just call 2-1-1 or go to the 2-1-1 website. We are grateful to the United Way and to the VITA volunteers for getting millions of dollars in tax credits back to our residents over the years, and I want every eligible Hartford resident to know how easy it is to get the help you need this tax season.”
To schedule a VITA appointment in the Greater Hartford, Tolland, Enfield and Windham areas, visit 211ct.org/taxhelp or dial 2-1-1, press 3 then 6 to have your federal and state tax returns prepared and filed at no cost. United Way 211 is a free, multilingual information and referral hotline, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make an appointment in the Greater New Britain-Berlin area, visit hranbct.org/VITA or dial 860-356-2000.
“The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is an incredible resource for Connecticut residents who qualify. Whether you have done your own taxes before or find the process daunting, the volunteers are there to walk filers through the process and maximize their returns,” encouraged Comptroller Sean Scanlon, State of Connecticut.
“Our VITA volunteers are well prepared and committed to helping taxpayers claim all their credits and to save! HRA is truly excited to kick off our 20th year of VITA service to our communities in partnership with United Way,” reflected Dr. Marlo Greponne, Executive Director, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA).
Last year, 13,500 tax filers received free tax services from nearly 300 IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers resulting in nearly $20 million in refunds and credits being returned to central and northeastern Connecticut.
For a complete list of required documents needed for VITA Tax Preparation, go to https://uwc.211ct.org/vita-docs/.