We achieve this mission by:
Partnering with IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers at VITA sites to provide free tax-preparation assistance to individuals earning less than $57,000 in 2020.
Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, IRS-certified volunteers provide free, basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for people who work but earn below a certain amount. A tax credit usually means more money in your pocket because it reduces the amount of tax you owe, resulting in a bigger refund. The EITC is considered an important tool in lifting folks out of poverty.
While the Greater Washington Area has one of the highest percentages of eligible filers taking advantage of the credit, there are still thousands of households not receiving their maximum refund, either because they are unaware of the EITC, or don’t have access to the tax services to help them apply for it. United Way NCA raises awareness and provides access to free tax preparation or assisted self-filing services around the regions.
In collaboration with our community partners and VITA sites, we provide low-income residents with free tax-preparation assistance to help them maximize available credits and receive tax refunds. During 2018, we mobilized volunteer tax preparers to prepare over 14,000 returns. Through our partnership, we helped local families receive a total of $17.7 million in refunds.
Sign up here to volunteer at a local tax site.