United Way VITA Tax program continues to help more residents each year

United Way

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, the United Way of Mahaska County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service filed 163 tax returns for lower-income Mahaska County residents as of the April 17th federal deadline. “This was our 4th year of offering the program to our residents,” explains Julie Hyland, VITA coordinator. “We continue to file more and more returns each year, and this year was no exception.” In 2012, the program saw an increase of 14 percent over the prior year, and the program continues to see an increasing number of people each year that depend on this service.

United Way of Mahaska County’s volunteers helped return $260,805 to local taxpayers in Mahaska County through state and federal tax refunds and credits, including $116,882 in earned income tax credits (EITC). The EITC is a federal anti-poverty measure for lower-income working individuals that lowers taxes or grant refunds through a tax return. The average taxpayers’ income was under $11,000 per year, and the average total refund received was $1,600.

“Our volunteers this year served as tax preparers, greeters, and reviewers,” stated Hyland. “We cannot thank them enough for all the time they set aside out of their own busy lives to provide this service to the residents of our county.”