VITA Helps Taxpayers $ave

January 30, 2009

	Commissioner Koons calls VITA one of the best economic programs the county has ever been involved with. « Previous | Next »

County Commissioners Jeff Koons and Addie Greene met with the media on January 30 in recognition of National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day and the United Way of Palm Beach County's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Until April 14, 20 VITA sites throughout the county will be offering free income-tax preparation to individuals earning $42,000 or less in 2008. Each VITA location is staffed by IRS-trained and certified volunteers, and all returns are e-filed, so refunds are usually received within 10 to 12 days.

Some VITA sites are open weeknights and weekends, making it more convenient for those who work. Other sites have translators who speak Spanish, Creole, Chinese and Thai. All sites are wheelchair accessible. To find the VITA location nearest you, call 211 or go to www.unitedwaypbc.org and click on "taxes done free" on the right side of the home page.

This is the sixth consecutive year for VITA. Last year more than 11,400 PBC residents used the free service and received $14 million in refunds, including $5.8 million in earned income tax credits. They also saved more than $1 million in fees they would have paid had they used a commercial tax-preparation service.

While preparing tax returns, VITA volunteers also help eligible residents apply for the earned income tax credit. This is a federal tax credit that many people don’t realize they are eligible for and fail to apply. Under EITC guidelines, if someone with two or more dependents earns $37,783 or less, he or she could receive up to $4,824 in tax credits.

Joining the Board of County Commissioners and the United Way of Palm Beach County as VITA program partners are the Internal Revenue Service, Bank of America, Wachovia, the National Disability Institute and the Quantum Foundation.