BRISTOL - United Way of West Central Connecticut has partnered with HRA of New Britain in support of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
With many companies sending out their W2 forms this month, many employees are filing their taxes. Those who earned less than $60,000 in 2022 may be eligible for free tax preparation services through the VITA program. People can make appointments at the Untied Way of West Central Connecticut and HRA of New Britain offices through April 17.
"HRA is proud to partner with The Village for Families & Children, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, United Way of Meriden and Wallingford, and United Way of West Central Connecticut to bring VITA to our communities," HRA of New Britain said in a statement on their public Facebook page. "Together, we can support families on a pathway toward financial security."
Tax assistance is offered at the United Way of West Central Connecticut office at 440 N. Main St. in Bristol from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
The HRA is also offering assistance at their Bristol office at 55 South St. from 5 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays.
Nancy Micloskey, community impact coordinator with United Way of West Central Connecticut said that the local United Way has partnered with HRA of New Britain on the VITA program for more than 15 years. Last year, the VITA program assisted 420 Bristol residents with their taxes.
"At United Way, we have three priority initiatives - health, education and financial stability," said Micloskey. "VITA fits in perfectly with financial stability. It saves families money by providing them with free tax services. We can do any kind of tax service except for people with rental income. Each year, people leave with information about refunds that they can use toward meeting their family needs.This money more often than not stays in the community and helps the local economy."
Micloseky said that volunteers sometimes include members of United Way of West Central Connecticut's Youth Board who become IRS certified as young as 15. In volunteering to assist with the VITA program, they often earn high school community service hours credits.
"There is no upper or lower age limit for volunteers," said Micloskey. "We typically maintain a database of around 10 volunteers so we can have 4 or 5 working at a time,"
United Way of West Central Connecticut continued to offer the VITA program even at the height of the pandemic.
"I went outside bundled up to grab people's paperwork and bring it to the tax preparer working inside and then people would return in an hour to sign the documents," said Micloskey.
This year, tax preparers will be able to work faster thanks to a grant from the Main Street Community Foundation, which will provide four new laptops for the program.
Tax preparers with the VITA program are IRS-certified and can help people find all of the tax credits and refunds that they are eligible for.
Those who file their tax returns electronically with the VITA program can expect to see a tax refund in 7 to 10 days.
Those who go to these programs are asked to bring a valid driver's license and photo ID, a social security card or individual taxpayer ID numbers for all household members, birth dates for the person filing taxes, their spouse and their dependents, records of all income, interest and dividend statements, forms 1095 A, B, or C for Affordable Care Act statements, last year's tax return if they have one, the name, address, and tax ID or social security number of their child care provider, education expenses and student loan information and a checking or savings account number and routing number for direct deposit. If the person seeking assistance is filing jointly, both spouses must be present.
No walk-ins will be accepted. People must make an appointment in advance by calling 860-356-2000.
