For working people who have low incomes, getting earned income tax credits and refunds back quickly during tax season is a priority. Many private, for-profit tax preparation businesses charge filing fees and refund anticipation loans. But fees and loans like these only exacerbate a person or family’s financial situation, especially for people with low incomes.
In Cincinnati, there is an alternative. SC Ministry Foundation has supported a free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in Price Hill since 2006, resulting in $2.1 million being returned to tax payers fee-free!
VITA is not only taking place in Cincinnati – it’s going on around the country every tax season. Last year, more than 88,000 volunteers filed three million returns at thousands of free tax preparation sites.
How does it work? It takes volunteers to coordinate the site and file taxes. Individual Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Charity employees, and several local nonprofit employees have been involved in this important project to return tax credits to the working people of Price Hill.
This tax season, do you want to be a part of this effort to put earned tax money back into the pockets of your neighbors?
For more information on Price Hill’s VITA site and the earned income tax credits, contact Maureen Maxfield from SC Ministry Foundation at (513) 347-1134 or mmaxfield@scministryfdn.org
Tags: Advocacy, Anti-poverty strategies, Cincinnati, Sisters of Charity
I can’t agree with you more. Don’t ever pay a refund anticipation loan. An honest tax preparer would never force you to pay to get your money faster.