A regional CAP Services program helped 431 households receive more than $570,000 in refunds on their 2011 taxes.
CAP Services Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has sites in Waupaca, Clintonville and Wautoma. CAP also partnered with the United Way of Portage County and Mid-State Technical College to sponsor a new VITA site, located at MSTC in Stevens Point.
In Waupaca County, VITA worked with 114 households.
The majority are working poor taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit on their federal and state tax return.
“The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can be one of the most significant resources available to low-income families,” said CAP President and CEO Mary Patoka. “Many, though, do not claim this and other credits due to lack of information or access. For some families, the value of the credit is diminished by high fees for tax preparation and/or rapid refund loans. The VITA program offers free services to eligible families.”
Volunteer tax preparers, certified through an IRS training process, helped low-income taxpayers complete and electronically file their returns. total of 21 volunteers donated over 600 hours at the VITA sites.
Patoka noted the volunteer time was worth nearly $10,000 and that the program would not be possible without these committed individuals.
In addition to a grant from the IRS, funding for the sites was provided by Community First Credit Union, Community Foundation of Central Wisconson, and United Way of Portage County.