Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Offers Free Tax Preparation beginning January 23

Households with annual incomes of up to $60,000 qualify for no-cost tax return assistance

Hartford, CT 1/20/2023 – It’s tax time, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is back to offer free federal and state income tax preparation and filing for Connecticut residents with annual household incomes of up to $60,000. United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, The Village for Families & Children and Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA), are partnering to kick off VITA, helping qualifying residents file their taxes at no charge. The goal is to help individuals and families get ahead financially, pay down debt and work toward saving for the future.

VITA services have been a free, professional, and trusted resource for nearly 30 years. All VITA volunteers are certified-IRS tax professionals who must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. VITA offers three convenient ways to connect with a trained tax professional, including:

1. Drop off appointments
2. In-person assistance and,
3. Virtual VITA submissions

To register for VITA in the Greater Hartford, Tolland and Windham areas visit 211ct.org/taxhelp or dial 2-1-1, press 3 then 6 to get your free tax preparation appointment scheduled. United Way 211 is a free, multilingual information and referral hotline, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make an appointment in the New Britain area, visit www.hranbct.org/VITA or dial 860-356-2000.

VITA volunteers are ready to help qualifying tax filers claim the tax credits they have earned. Last year, more than 10,000 tax filers received free tax services from 259 trained volunteer tax preparers resulting in $27.5 million in refunds and credits being returned to our local communities.

“With tax season approaching, we want to make sure that everyone in our community knows that there’s tax filing help available,” said Mayor Bronin. “We’re so grateful for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance campaign, which offers free tax help to residents with a household income of up to

$60,000. With this campaign, expert tax preparers will help residents take advantage of every tax credit that they qualify for, which can make a big difference for Hartford families. We’re grateful to the United Way, The Village for Families & Children, and especially to all of the VITA volunteers who step up each year.”

“VITA not only saves people on tax prep but it helps them access thousands of dollars in tax refunds. That money is crucial for paying rent, buying groceries, car repairs and other costs. With inflation eroding every family’s purchasing power, this year’s VITA initiative is more important than ever,” said Galo Rodriguez, President & CEO at The Village for Families & Children.

“United Way is grateful to our donors and partners, including The Village for Families & Children and Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA), for their continued commitment to the VITA campaign. This initiative not only supports hard-working families claiming every tax credit and refund they have earned, but also provides many volunteers with the opportunity to give back to the community. VITA would not exist without the hundreds of volunteer tax professionals who drive the success of the campaign, giving their time and getting the certifications needed to meet IRS standards; we value and appreciate that tremendously,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.

“EITC is an excellent source of additional income for qualified families experiencing hardships due to the economic climate after COVID-19. Families with limited resources must use every opportunity they can to overcome the economic challenges they face. We are happy to provide a FREE service to help them access these funds!” said Dr. Marlo Greponne, Executive Director, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA).

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

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