Each tax season, hundreds of VITA volunteers just like me, across more than 80 VITA sites in Massachusetts alone, help thousands of taxpayers file their taxes and claim the tax credits they’re eligible for, without having to pay exorbitant fees to accountants or other tax filing programs.
The free tax preparation service provided by VITA dismantles systemic barriers and administrative burdens that make it infinitely more difficult for families to access the benefits from tax returns for which they are eligible, often putting cash directly back into their pocket. Low-income workers can claim the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides a refundable credit worth 40 percent of the worker’s federal EITC (up to $3,132). All families in Massachusetts with children under the age of thirteen or a disabled dependent, regardless of income, can claim the state Child and Family Tax Credit (CFTC) worth $440 for each eligible dependent. Supported by the IRS and supplemented by state investment, VITA is critical to ensuring the lowest income families in Massachusetts learn about and claim these credits.
My experience as a VITA volunteer helping families file their tax return and access tax credits was eye-opening and incredibly meaningful. Alicia is a long time patient of Boston Medical Center and single mother of four. When I met Alicia, she was incredibly enthusiastic about working with our VITA site, StreetCred, to file her tax return. With support from VITA services, she was able to claim $1,760 from the Massachusetts Child and Family Tax Credit. Elated, she told us that this money would help her afford food, school supplies, rent, and other necessities to provide for her family.
Alicia’s story is one of many, and I am proud to say that my peers and I have returned tens of thousands of dollars to families like hers’ because we know about niche programs like rent and commuter-based deductions, Circuit Breaker tax credits for senior taxpayers, and student loan tax deductions. Without VITA volunteers, low- and moderate-income families as well as those who are elderly, disabled, or have limited English proficiency could miss out on thousands of dollars for which they’re eligible.
VITA volunteers are an essential community-based resource for taxpayers and their families. The knowledge that VITA volunteers can bring is essential to helping taxpayers navigate the ever-complex world of tax returns. For many families and individuals who file with VITA like Alicia and her children, access to the program is the difference between receiving hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of dollars in health-boosting credits they are owed — or continuing to struggle to afford basic necessities like food, rent, and utilities.