United Way Volusia -Flagler Has 8 Locations For VITA Program Tax Help

Daytona Beach, FL – It’s tax season and the United Way Volusia-Flagler Counties Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is open and ready to help with tax preparation for families with income up to $56,000 file accurate tax returns. United Way has been offering the VITA program since 2004 according to Sheila Jackson, Program Coordinator for the Campaign for Working Families, an in-house financial stability program. VITA is a part of that campaign.  The service is available to individuals who are eligible for EIC (Earn Income Credit), CTC (Child Tax Credit), persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax returns. Jackson says the federal government suggests the income limit. "Federal Government asks us to target persons making $56,000 and under. We are trying to attract the low to moderate income people." Like everything else since March of last year, the way the VITA program works is a little different. Jackson says they usually offer 14 sites across both counties, This year, there are only eight. "Because of COVID, we’ve lost a lot of volunteers. Flagler County, we have two and the rest are in Volusia County. We have one in Deltona, one in New Smyrna, and one in DeLand. The rest are in Daytona Beach." You can find the list of locations and what documents you need to bring with you at unitedwayvfc.org All sites are by appointment only and you MUST have an appointment to enter the site in compliance with CDC guidelines, call 211 or 386-253-0564 for information and to make anappointment. All sites will follow the CDC guidelines for safety and social distancing purposes. All clients and volunteers must wear a mask.