VITA volunteers are offering no cost tax prep and filing help for West Hartford and other local residents during this tax season.

Submitted photo

Submitted

Working individuals and families in greater Hartford are receiving help preparing and electronically filing their state and federal tax returns with the help of IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers.

It’s all part of a region-wide effort to help taxpayers with incomes up to $54,000 to prepare and electronically file their income taxes at no charge, claim applicable tax credits, and receive the refunds they deserve.

During appointments with VITA volunteers, taxpayers also learn about other financial resources in the area.

Greater Hartford’s VITA program, sponsored by The Village for Families & Children and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, last year helped nearly 11,400 working individuals and families in central and northeastern Connecticut receive $29.1 million in federal tax refunds and credits – money coming right back into our community.

Individuals and families may call 2-1-1 and press 3 and then 6 to see if they qualify for free tax preparation and make an appointment at a convenient VITA site in Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Vernon, West Hartford, Windsor Locks, and the Windham region.

To schedule an appointment, dial 2-1-1 and press ‘3’ and then ‘6’ or visit www.211ct.org.

Individuals and families with household incomes up to $62,000 in 2016 can file for free on their own and obtain online support at any time using MyFreeTaxes.com.

For more information and a list of VITA sites, visit thevillage.org/program/vita/.

The 2017 VITA and MyFreeTaxes program partners are: City of Hartford, Community Accounting Services; Human Resources Agency of New Britain; Internal Revenue Service; The Village for Families & Children; and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. The 2017 VITA/MyFreeTaxes program is generously supported by: Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Farmington Bank Community Foundation.