By: Jerilyn Stowe
Marketing and Communications Director

While the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is underway, several unacknowledged elves are preparing for another annual event that brings glad tidings and great joy to many low-income families – tax season!  More than 600 volunteers are setting up 88 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state. Volunteers at these sites provide free tax preparation to individuals and households that qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  Thousands of people who qualify for the EITC don’t claim the tax credit for a number of reasons –  they don’t think they make enough to file taxes, they have language or cultural barriers, or the complexity of filing taxes keeps them from filling out the right forms.  For those that do claim the tax credit, it can mean a huge boost to their annual income. A household whose income is below $49,000 may qualify for a refund of up to $5,600 – even if they don’t owe any taxes! Tax filers are encouraged to invest their refunds in their futures by saving for a home or college, paying off debt, or putting their money in an emergency fund in case of a financial crisis.

As a VITA volunteer for a couple of years, I’ve seen first- hand how this program changes people’s lives.  A number of years ago, a woman named Sylvia came into a Volunteer Tax Assistance Site and had her taxes prepared. She realized that she qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit and would be receiving a refund of over $4,000. She had not filed the EITC for the years prior and was able to amend her past returns to receive the credit for the past three years.  Her refund ended up being more than $11,000! She was overjoyed and shared with us that she had been saving for a house for years and would finally have enough for a down payment on her very first home at the age of 56.

The Earned Income Tax Credit not only improves people’s lives, it also strengthens communities.  For every hour of volunteering at a site, it is estimated that $1,400 in refunds are brought back to local communities – making a huge economic impact.

The EITC is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

For more information on how you can volunteer or get your taxes prepared for free visit utahtaxhelp.org or dial 211!