Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helps people prepare their tax returns for free

Did you know 70% OF AMERICANS qualify for free tax preparation assistance?

For many working families, tax refunds and credits are essential to their financial stability and success. In fact, many of the most successful anti-poverty initiatives are baked into the tax code. That’s why United Way focuses on helping people save more of their hard-earned money, and maximize their returns. We do this through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program – free, licensed assistance preparing returns. When working families maximize their returns, they have more money they can spend on food, heating their home, paying their rent, and saving for the future.

How to get free tax preparation

While in-person assistance is a must for some people, many more can qualify for help from United Way’s myfreetaxes.com. MyFreeTaxes is the largest free tax preparation service operated by a nonprofit. The site has no income limit or age restrictions and supports unlimited state returns. It is free for all filers, with no option for paid add-ons or fees. It offers IRS-certified 211 call specialists to assist filers as well as connections to a VITA site if in-person assistance is needed. United Way makes this service available to reach the millions who will qualify for free assistance but may not be able to access a VITA site.

How to help

Donate
With your donations, United Way provides financial support to VITA sites across Greater Boston including sites at Quincy CAP, Chelsea Connect, JVS-Boston, and Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment, among others in Salem, Beverly, Lawrence, and Southern NH. This year United Way’s partner sites will help more than 4,000 households file and leverage $6,000,000 in returns.

Help spread the word
Do you have residents, employees, or program participants who would benefit from free tax preparation? Here’s a marketing packet that will make it easy for you to post and share online with your network.

Become a VITA volunteer
Volunteering for this year is closed. Sites typically seek volunteers in the early fall so they have time to train before tax season begins in February. Contact us with your name, location, and interest in becoming a VITA volunteer and we will connect you with opportunities to serve.