United Way of Mercer County Free Tax Program (VITA- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is crucial to helping individuals and families struggling to make ends meet keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Individuals and families in Mercer County that earned less than $65,000 in 2021 are eligible.
For a decade, the community has come to rely on the free tax preparation services offered by UWGMC. Rising costs and changes in the labor market make it difficult for struggling families to pay for necessities like food, prescriptions, and housing. Savings from tax filing fees are for essentials or to build up savings to weather hard times such as the pandemic. Tax sites are open in-person and some by appointment only starting the week of February 7th until April 15th. For a list of locations and to access this free service, visit www.uwgmc.org/freetaxprogram.
UWGMC partners with the IRS and volunteers to make the Free Tax Program available to Mercer County residents. Last year, over 1,000 tax returns were filed by their volunteers and resulted in more than $1.3 million in refunds. The Free Tax Program aims to help families facing economic hardships to take advantage of all possible tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC). These credits help to stabilize and improve family finances. In addition to tax filing, UWGMC connects individuals to social support services for food assistance programs, health insurance enrollment, and housing.
“The impact of VITA is monumental. It is not about the mechanics of doing taxes, reviewing W-2’s and answering questions. It is about lifting people out of poverty and preventing others from getting below the poverty line. Accessing tax credits can give a significant boost to the barebones budget of a family and allows for the healthy development of children, giving them a chance for future success,” said Sandra Toussaint, President, and CEO of United Way of Greater Mercer County.
Other UWGMC partners for the Free Tax Program (VITA) include Investors Bank Foundation, NJ Commission on National and Community Service/Volunteer Generation Fund—within the Department of State, PNC Bank, The Provident Bank Foundation, Roma Bank Community Foundation, and Wells Fargo.
For more information about UWGMC’s Free Tax Program, please visit: www.uwgmc.org/freetaxprogram or call 609-896-1912. You can also call 2-1-1, and they will connect you with a location in your area.
