NRCA_AnnualRep17-18

VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) Volunteers served 862 families, saving filers $172,400 in tax preparation fees.

The New River Community Action Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax return preparation to low-moderate income individuals. From January to May 2018, community volunteers assisted 862 taxpayers, contributing over 2,000 hours. An additional 89 families in our service area received free income tax return preparation by taking advantage of the VITA -sponsored myfreetaxes website. VITA helped our clients receive $902,312 in federal and Virginia tax refunds, including $296,183 in federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) dollars. The EITC is the nation’s largest federal anti-poverty program, serving working families who are most at-risk during hard economic times. The average adjusted gross income for households served by VITA was $17,536. NRCA’s free services saved low-moderate income taxpayers $172,400 in tax return preparation fees, based on an average fee of $200 per tax-filer. In 2018, local Commissioners of Revenue offices in Radford City, Pulaski County, and Montgomery County joined in the VITA effort. VITA program gained five new sites: Pulaski County Public Library, Pulaski County Senior Center, Newbern Community Christian Church and the Commissioners of the Revenue for both Radford City and Pulaski County. Over 250 returns came from these new sites.

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