United Way and Partners Return $35 Million to Local Taxpayers

26,000 free tax returns prepared for qualifying individuals

PHILADELPHIA, July 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), along with volunteers, the IRS, and dozens of community partners, returned $35 million to local taxpayers during this year's tax season. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), IRS-trained volunteers helped prepare 26,000 tax returns for free for individuals with a household income of less than $51,000. The program is supported in local communities in eight counties by UWGPSNJ.

"United Way works to ensure that adults have the tools and resources they need to gain and maintain financial stability, and tax preparation services like VITA enable families to maximize their incomes," says Jill Michal, president and CEO of UWGPSNJ. "For many families throughout our region living paycheck-to-paycheck, a full tax refund could mean a significant budget boost. These dollars can be the first step toward paying down debt, making important repairs or building a savings account."

Taxpayers are many times unaware of the important credits they are eligible for, leaving valuable dollars on the table. In fact, the IRS estimates that one in five taxpayers does not claim one of the biggest boosters to family incomes – the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable credit that can return up to $5,891 per qualifying family – simply because they are unaware or do not file their taxes.

Of the $35 million returned to local taxpayers, more than $11 million stemmed from EITC refunds alone. In addition, individual filers saved an estimated $200 per return by utilizing the VITA program.

VITA sites in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties are supported by UWGPSNJ.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania's Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey's Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people's lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way is advancing the common good in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by positively impacting the lives of people throughout the region in the areas of education, income, and health.

SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey