County’s Annual VITA Program Underway

	(l-r) Ron Albert, IRS territory manager, Chuck Anderson, CEO and president of the United Way of Palm Beach County, United Way Board Chair Chris Oberlink, Commissioner Koons and Joanne Arroyo, a VITA client « Previous | Next »

Commissioner Jeff Koons joined officials with the United Way and the IRS on January 29 to kick off this year’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Since 2004, local VITA offices have helped thousands of individuals prepare their tax returns for free, saving residents millions of dollars in fees that would have been paid for professional tax preparation services.

If your household annual income is $49,000 or less, you are eligible for free assistance. All returns are e-filed and refunds are usually received within 10 days.

Last year, some 9,500 tax returns were filed by Palm Beach County VITA volunteers for refunds totaling over $15 million. This year, they expect to exceed 10,000 tax returns.

There are 20 VITA offices throughout Palm Beach County. Just go to www.unitedwaypbc.org for locations and addresses.

The news conference in the McEaddy Conference Room was held on National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. The EITC is a federal tax credit for individuals and families who meet certain low- and moderate-income requirements. The VITA program focuses on educating individuals about the EITC and helps those eligible file for it.

Each year, an estimated $12 million in qualified credits goes unclaimed by South Florida taxpayers, according to IRS Territory Manager Ron Albert. The credit is applicable up to three years prior, and even if you don’t qualify for the EITC, you may still be able to get your taxes done for free. “We encourage everyone to stop into a VITA site and see if they qualify,” he said.

VITA offices will be open through April 15. For more information, please call 2-1-1 or the United Way of Palm Beach County at 561-375-6600.