United Way’s VITA program opens with coronavirus precautions

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United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will open this month with new options for free tax preparation services designed to safeguard the health of clients and volunteers.

Now in its 15th year, United Way’s VITA program is ramping up online options to reduce the need for in-person appointments during the pandemic, according to a news release. This year, clients have four free options:

Drop Off, Pick Up
Clients arrive to their appointment, complete intake forms, and provide needed documents in person. Once the return is received, the client is scheduled to pick up the return on another day. Preparation is completed by an IRS-certified volunteer between the two appointments. Call 211 or visit unitedwaygc.org/vita to schedule an appointment.

In Person, Video Chat
Upon arrival, clients are assigned a private room and their paperwork is taken to an IRS-certified volunteer in another private room. Clients and volunteers interact via video monitors while the return is being prepared. The completed return is printed and given to the client along with their tax documents. Call 211 or visit unitedwaygc.org/vita to schedule an appointment.

GetYourRefund.org/uwgc
In partnership with CodeForAmerica, this 100 percent virtual option is available for free online. To get started, visit GetYourRefund.org, answer a series of questions, upload tax documents, and schedule a call with an IRS-certified tax preparer to complete the return.

MyFreeTaxes.com
Clients can complete their own returns at myfreetaxes.com. Online chat and support lines are available for clients.

“Making sure we can continue to provide this critical service to our community while keeping our clients and volunteers safe is our top priority for the 2021 tax season,” Deborah McKetty, United Way senior vice president for community impact, said in the news release. “With the delays in filing and refunds likely to also experience delays, families are at risk of being more susceptible to predatory tax services that offer up-front, early payments but charge high fees in the later repayment period. By filing with a free service and waiting for the refund, individuals and families can save more money and receive their full refund.”

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals and families with a household income of less than $60,000 a year. VITA’s volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS to help taxpayers maximize their potential tax returns by ensuring all of the tax credits and deductions for which they qualify are claimed, the release said. 

Through this free service, United Way helps people build financial stability by saving money on tax prep fees and maximizing their returns, the release said.