United Way of Southwest Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, commonly known as VITA (pronounced VYE-tuh), is excited to announce the program’s volunteers assisted over 1,100 clients across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties with tax preparation & filing. The result is over $1.3 Million in tax refunds returned to Southwest Michigan residents through this vital program.
“This program is so integral to the ALICE population,” stated Anna Murphy, President & CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. “These working families may not have the time or resources to truly sit down and do the work themselves or contract a service to do the work. To know that this population is getting the support of professionals to receive all of the money they are owed is heartwarming.” ALICE is the Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Educated vulnerable population United Way works to serve.
“Our volunteers are incredible. The time they take to patiently prepare clients for success is admirable,” said Sara Barlow, Impact Project Coordinator for United Way of Southwest Michigan. “Not everyone enjoys doing taxes, but we have a great group of 45+ volunteers that simply want to help people. It’s just great to watch people light up with appreciation when they see their returns.”
The VITA program is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative designed to support free tax preparation service for the underserved through various partner organizations. Returns are prepared by IRS tax law-certified volunteers. Volunteers are taught how to use tax software and specific tax law issues. One of the focal points of the VITA program is raising taxpayer awareness and receipt of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
The VITA Program offers free tax help to people who make $67,000 or less, living in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren County, and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.
This year’s VITA program service locally served over 1,100 clients during appointments available at seven sites in the three county area, including South Haven, Paw Paw, Niles, Stevensville, Benton Harbor, Dowagiac, and Cassopolis. Over 45 volunteers spent over 2,000 hours of service to assist those utilizing the VITA program, which equates to a time value of over $362,900. The highest concentration of clients served were situated in Benton Harbor, Paw Paw, and South Haven.
VITA was founded in 1971 and has grown to several thousand sites nationwide, partnering with nonprofit organizations like local United Ways, local municipalities, and colleges and universities.
