Wal-Mart Foundation gives $15,000 to United Way tax program

BOYNTON BEACH – United Way of Palm Beach County has received a $15,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to support United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

The VITA Program provides free, income-tax preparation for individuals whose household income is $42,000 or less. The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $2.1 million to United Way of America to fund VITA Programs throughout the country. The local United Way was one of 90 chosen to receive money from the grant.

This is the sixth year United Way of Palm Beach County has offered the free tax-preparation services to local residents. Anyone who meets the income qualifications can go to any of United Way’s 20 VITA sites throughout the county to have their taxes prepared for free. The sites are staffed by volunteers who have been trained and certified by the IRS to prepare taxes using the VITA Program.

United Way reports so far this year more than 7,291 households have used the VITA Program and have received more than $13 million in refunds, including over $5 million in Earned Income Tax Credit.

EITC is a federal tax credit for individuals and families who meet certain income and eligibility guidelines. Many residents qualify for EITC, but are unaware they do, so they do not apply for them. Under EITC guidelines, if someone has earned $37,783, they may be eligible for up to $4,716 in tax credit. While preparing returns, VITA volunteers help residents who are eligible, apply for the EITC.

To find a VITA site, residents need to call 2-1-1, the county’s information and referral line. United Way of Palm Beach County also has an updated list of VITA sites on its Web site www.unitedwaypbc.org Look for the “Taxes Done Free” icon on the right side of the home page.

For those whose household income is $56,000 or less, additional free tax preparation is available through the Beehive at One Economy’s website: www.myfreetaxes.com.

United Way of Palm Beach County targets the community’s most pressing needs and focuses resources, agency partnerships and the energy of volunteers to create measurable results that have the greatest impact. To invest, volunteer, or for more information, call United Way of Palm Beach County at (561) 375-6600 or visit www.unitedwaypbc.org