United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Announces the Opening of the VITA Program and Ribbon Cutting

United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties announces the opening of the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program for the upcoming tax season, February 1 – April 13, 2023.

The United Way VITA program is an IRS-supported tax preparation service, through which trained volunteers prepare taxes at no cost for qualifying individuals and families. The VITA program, along with My Free Taxes, connects community members with eligible credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a benefit for working people with incomes under $70,000 and can mean more resources for essential needs such as reliable transportation, housing, and food. Households earning $70,000 or less can file their taxes for free at a VITA site during tax season or utilize MyFreeTaxes.com.

The ribbon cutting for the 2023 VITA season is on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 11 AM located at Patterson Park Community Center.

According to Debbie Curtis, United Way’s VITA program coordinator, the program “is a wonderful example of how United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties works to improve the financial stability of everyone in our community, by helping to keep money in taxpayer pockets.

“We are able to offer this free service to qualified families and individuals through the assistance of very committed volunteers and donors,” Curtis added.

During United Way’s 2022 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, more than 1,200 tax returns were completed, resulting in a $1,906,000 investment through tax refunds, as well as $410,000 in reduced tax prep fees, for a total economic impact of over $2,316,000 in Rutherford and Cannon counties. Through combined efforts with My Free Taxes, a free online filing service, the economic impact of the VITA program has consistently increased each year.

Since the VITA program’s inception in 2012, more than $14M has been invested back into Rutherford and Cannon counties through tax refunds.

Volunteer opportunities are still available, as well as appointments for assistance. For more information, visit https://www.yourlocaluw.org/vita or call (615) 893-7303.