VITA Completes Record 951 Returns!
The goal of New River Community Action’s VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) program is to provide free tax preparation to underserved individuals in the community, especially low-income workers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
The VITA program contributes to individual and family stability by ensuring that qualifying households receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), considered to be one of the most effective anti-poverty tools. In addition, the program can help individuals avoid high fees for tax preparation services and high-cost loans against tax refunds.
During the 2017 tax return filing period, New River Community Action’s VITA program completed 951 tax returns – a record for NRCA VITA returns!
With roughly 18% of the New River Valley’s population living below the federal poverty threshold, it is not surprising to learn that the average VITA client family income is $17,536. VITA volunteers serve these clients, many of whom qualify for credits like EITC and the Child Tax Credit.
The best part of our VITA program is our volunteers! Twelve volunteers prepared 951 returns this season. Our incredible volunteers go above and beyond to serve, working days, nights, and weekends to prepare and review returns. Volunteers contributed 440 hours of pre-season training and provided 1,707 hours of actual tax return preparation!
Our partners in the community made the difference. The Commissioners of the Revenue offices for Radford City, Montgomery County, and Pulaski County completed 573 returns! We genuinely appreciate the organizations that continue to support VITA.
We are glad to share some client stories from this tax season, as they expressed appreciation to VITA, as many stated there was no way they could afford to pay tax return preparation fees:
One client said she was quoted $300 for tax preparation, and she needed every penny of her return to send her special needs child to a special camp this summer.
Another client was using her return for a down-payment on a house. She was the first person in her family to own her own home.
Three other clients plan to use their refunds to pay for their children to go to college in the fall. Two of these families will have first-generation college students!
The total amount of NRCA VITA program federal refunds was $902,312, with an average refund amount of $1,078, and $147,189 in Virginia total state refunds. Our VITA customers saved clients a total of $172,400 in tax preparation costs! The financial impact for the New River Valley was more than $1,200,000, considering refunds, credits (emphasizing the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit) and saved processing fees. This impact improves family financial stability and provides VITA clients the ability to spend these funds locally for food, shelter and other needs.
VITA serves low- to moderate-income households—people with one or two good jobs, families with young children, and senior citizens. VITA saves these taxpayers money, but perhaps just as valuable, it provides clients a sense of security and financial empowerment. With this peace of mind, they can focus on family needs and plan for the future.