Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Sunday, January 02, 2011 - 11:35 AM
Information about VITA Program in Davis and Morgan Counties—2010 Tax Season
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certified volunteers provided free tax services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for persons with low to moderate incomes (those with annual incomes of $49,000 and below.) The VITA program is sponsored nationally by the IRS and locally by non-profit organizations such as the Family Connection Center, United Way and Community Action Partnership of Utah. This past tax season was the third year that Davis County has had its own coalition overseeing the program—an organization comprised of non-profit agency representatives and local business and community leaders. Income tax preparation was done at 10 Davis County and Morgan County locations this tax season. The total number of residents served and the total refund figures continue to increase each year since the formation of the coalition.
Each region is organized through a Regional Coordinator and has an IRS representative assigned who supplies training and serves as an authority on tax law.
Filing statistics supplied by the IRS indicate that the VITA program served a total of 1,046 clients in these two counties this past year. Total federal tax refunds amounted to $1,614,233 These data do not include Utah State tax refunds or most of the paper filings, just those electronically filed, so the figures are actually even higher than reported. The dollar amount of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) included in this years’ refunds was $567,797 The EITC refunds are quite important because this money often goes unclaimed, even when the taxpayer is qualified to receive it. Congress passed the tax laws establishing the Earned Income Tax Credits in 1975. These credits were designed to encourage low-income workers to remain employed, and to supplement the income of workers who are not highly paid.
Most tax refunds are spent locally, so the VITA program not only helps low-income individuals and families, it also provides a stimulus to the local economy.
The VITA program is always looking for additional VITA sites and additional tax preparers to better serve the Davis and Morgan County residents.
If you have questions about the program, please call or e-mail me at the numbers below.
Elizabeth Robins, Regional Coordinator
VITA Program in Davis and Morgan Counties
E-Mail: erobins8@gmail.com
Phone: 801-544-4622
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