Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Filing Countdown

Apr.13, 2023

Press Conference reminds households with annual incomes of up to $60,000 to file a no-cost tax return.

Hartford, CT 4/13/2023 – A press conference was held today to REMIND the community to take advantage of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a free, professional and trusted resource that offers free federal and state income tax preparation and filing for Connecticut residents with annual household incomes of up to $60,000. The tax deadline is Tuesday, April 18.

An update was also provided to highlight the success of the VITA program. As of April 12, 2023, the VITA collaborative has prepared and filed tax returns for nearly 10,200 households, which has returned nearly $16.5 million dollars back to our community in tax refunds in credits, including an average Earned Income Tax Credit claim of $1,763 dollars.

(L – R) Congressman John Larson, CT-01; Eric Harrison, United Way; Galo Rodriguez, The Village; Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz; Governor Ned Lamont; Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin; and, Juan Berrios, HRA of New Britain.

Representatives from United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, The Village for Families & Children and Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA), along with Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Congressman John Larson and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin came together to support this initiative.

“United Way has been a leader in the VITA campaign for two decades. This work is critical to United Way’s mission to bring together the right people, organizations and resources for the well-being of children and families. VITA illustrates how United Way and our network of partners work together to help families achieve financial security,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “We also would like to recognize the work of dozens of volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to get IRS-certified and prepare and file state and federal taxes for people in our communities. The tax season is nearly over and we want to make sure families with annual incomes of up to $60,000 benefit from free tax assistance.”

“The Village is thrilled to help thousands of families unlock millions of dollars in tax credits and refunds. The money that goes to these families is used to buy groceries, repair a car, pay rent or is saved for a rainy day. We’re grateful to all the VITA volunteers and staff whose work is making such a huge difference for so many children and families,” said Galo Rodriguez, President & CEO at The Village for Families & Children.

“The EITC is an excellent source of additional income for qualifying families experiencing hardships due to inflation and other factors. Families with limited resources must use every opportunity they can to overcome the economic challenges they are faced with. We are happy to provide VITA, a FREE service, to help them access the all of the tax credits and refunds they are eligible for,” said Dr. Marlo Greponne, Executive Director, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc.

For a complete list of required documents needed for VITA Tax Preparation, go to https://uwc.211ct.org/vita-docs/.

Book your VITA appointment by visiting 211ct.org/taxhelp or by dialing 2-1-1, press 3 then 6.

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About United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s vision is a community where opportunities are available for every child to succeed in school and for every family to achieve financial security. United Way brings people and resources together to address immediate needs and finds long-term solutions to challenging problems. United Way does this by investing in programs and services, leading community change initiatives, and mobilizing resources and volunteers to ensure that: children succeed in school; people get jobs and are financially secure; people are healthy; and, basic needs are met during tough times. Learn more at unitedwayinc.org.

About The Village for Families & Children
The Village for Families & Children was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, The Village provides a full range of behavioral health, early and childhood youth development, substance use treatment, and support services for children, families, and adults in the Greater Hartford region. Learn more at thevillage.org.

About Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA)
The Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. is a multi-service non-profit organization dedicated to increasing economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families residing in greater New Britain, Bristol, and surrounding towns. HRA’s five program divisions house its wide variety of services; early childhood education, community and neighborhood, employment and training, energy and housing, and health and wellness. For more information, visit our website at www.hranbct.org

Primary Media Contact: Jeannette Dardenne, 860.655.9621 jeannette@ingroupcreative.com

United Way Media Contact: Anyeline Céspedes López, 787.502.0436, acespedes@unitedwayinc.org

The Village for Families & Children Media Contact: Sarah Thompson, 860.751.4179, sthompson@thevillage.org

Human Resources Agency Inc. of New Britain, Inc. (HRA) Media Contact: Juan Berrios, 860.214.8454, jberrios@hranbct.org