United Way and Partners Return $41 Million to Local Taxpayers
28,490 free tax returns prepared for qualifying individuals
PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the 2015 tax season, more than $41 million was returned to taxpayers in our region because of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), a free, IRS-supported tax prep service coordinated by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), Campaign for Working Families (CWF), AARP in Camden, Community Action Agency of Delaware County and PathwaysPA. The volunteer-based program, which serves individuals and families with a household income of less than $53,000, helped prepare nearly 29,000 returns during the 2015 tax season.
"At United Way, we're focused on ensuring our local families have access to the resources, assets and education they need to thrive. This is how we change lives and strengthen communities, and it takes the right partners to be successful in helping our families unlock their income potential," said Jim Cawley, president and CEO of UWGPSNJ. "Through programs like VITA, we help put additional dollars back into the pockets of our families living paycheck-to-paycheck, so they are able to pay down debt, save for a home or continue their education. Together, we drive measurable, lasting Impact that none of us can achieve alone."
According to the IRS, taxpayers are often unaware of the important credits they may be eligible for and leave valuable dollars on the table. 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 $6,143 per qualifying family – simply because they are unaware or do not file their taxes. In addition, VITA not only provides assistance for taxes, but also helps residents make connections to other financial resources such as budgeting, credit counseling and financial literacy programs.
"Our goal is to ensure every eligible taxpayer has access to free and accurate tax preparation services, where the tax filer can be assured they receive all eligible credits they are entitled to in an effort to maximize their refund," says Mary Arthur, Executive Director of CWF. "In turn, many tax filers have used their refund to achieve and maintain their financial stability. This year, we were honored and eagerly enthused to have the opportunity to grow CWF's work particularly into Southern New Jersey – and this expansion was made possible through the significant support and contributions from United Way."
For more information on the VITA program or other work supporting financial stability for our families, visit www.UnitedForImpact.org or www.CWFPhilly.org.
About Campaign for Working Families
Now approaching its 14th year, the Campaign provides free tax filing assistance so Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey families can maximize federal and state tax credits without paying excessive fees to commercial tax preparers. CWF operates 31 community-based tax sites offering e-filing, direct deposit, public benefit access, saving bonds, pre-paid debit cards and healthcare enrollment to help clients save money. Over the past 13 years, the Campaign has prepared and e-filed over 170,000 tax returns and brought more than $271 million in federal refunds to working families. The Campaign's free tax preparation services have saved these individuals/families over $32 million in tax filing and check cashing fees. The Campaign is a program partner of the Urban Affairs Coalition. Additional information can be found at www.cwfphilly.org.
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. To learn more, visit www.UnitedForImpact.org.
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SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
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