VITA Program Offering Free Tax Prep. Services in RI
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
GoLocalProv Business Team
Beginning on Tuesday and staggered through the first week of February, twenty-nine statewide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are offering free tax preparation services to low- and middle-income working Rhode Islanders. Funded by United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI), the VITA program ensures that those who earn less than $52,000 annually have access to tax services in order to receive the money they are due in refunds and credits.
Each VITA site, which represents a community agency, are certified by the IRS and offered services during last year’s tax season. Participating agencies successfully applied for funding through UWRI for a three-year grant cycle beginning in 2014 and recruited and trained volunteer tax professional who will help taxpayers complete their income tax forms. Many of the sites will offer services in both English and Spanish, and returns will be filed electronically to expedite the return of refunds.
“The VITA program is an important resource for our working neighbors, particularly during these difficult economic times, as it provides access to the resources that put money back in their pockets,” said Anthony Maione, president & CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “Not only will this initiative help stabilize households across our state, it will also bolster the economy—it’s truly a win-win effort.”
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The VITA Initiative was launched locally in 2005 to help Rhode Islanders understand and take full advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Education Credit and refunds they are due. Over the past nine years. the VITA initiative has returned more than $92 million to working households.
In 2013, nearly 9,000 taxpayers took advantage of the program—more than any previous year—resulting in over $16 million returned to the economy.
Rhode Islanders looking to take advantage of the VITA program should review the list below or contact United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island by dialing 2-1-1 to find a VITA site in their community. Appointments are necessary at most sites and the program will continue through mid-April. Select sites offer evening and weekend hours.
Organizations offering free tax preparation services through the VITA program:
Bristol
Bristol EBCAP/St Mary Church
330 Wood Street
(401) 435-7876
Central Falls
Progreso Latino
626 Broad Street
(401) 728-5920
YWCA of Greater RI
43 Hawes Street
(401) 722-3010
Cranston
Comprehensive Community Action (Through 5/30/14)
311 Doric Avenue
(401) 467-7013
Cranston Senior Services
1070 Cranston Street
(401) 780-6130
East Providence
East Bay Community Action
100 Bullocks Point Avenue
(401) 435-7876
Johnston
Tri-Town Community Action
1126 Hartford Avenue
(401) 351-2750 x1915
Lincoln
Lincoln Public Library
114 Old River Road
(401) 766-2300
Newport
East Bay Community Action
19 Broadway
(401) 435-7876
Pawtucket
Blackstone Valley Community Action
32 Goff Avenue
(401) 723-4520 ext. 200
Project Hope
474 Broadway
(401) 728-0515
Woodlawn CDC
210 West Avenue
(401) 475-7632
Providence
Capital City Community Ctr.
1085 Chalkstone Avenue
(401) 455-3890
Capital Good Fund (Through 12/12/14)
56 Pine Street, 3rd Floor
(866) 584-3651
Center for Southeast Asians
270 Elmwood Avenue
(401) 274-8811 ext. 22
Dorcas International Institute
645 Elmwood Avenue
(401) 461-5940 ext. 8626
Federal Hill House
9 Courtland Street
(401) 421-4722
Johnson & Wales University (Available starting 3/6/14)
80 Johnson Hall (Corner of Chestnut and Pine)
(401) 598-4789
Olneyville Housing Corp.
66 Chaffee Street
(401) 351-8719 ext. 111
Open Doors
485 Plainfield Street
(401) 781-5808 ext. 116
ProCap Elmwood Community Center
85 Atlantic Avenue
(401) 654-4971 ext. 105
Providence Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church
131 Elmwood Avenue
(401) 603-0327
Wakefield
South County Community Action
1935 Kingstown Road
(401) 789-3016 ext. 316
The Education Exchange
33 North Road, Unit C-1
(401) 783-0293
Warwick
Westbay Community Action
218 Buttonwoods Avenue
(401) 732-4666 ext. 121
Westerly
WARM
56 Spruce Street
(401) 596-9276
Westerly Public Library
44 Broad Street
(401) 596-0078
Woonsocket
Connecting for Children & Families
46 Hope Street
(401) 766-3384
Family Resources Community Action
245 Main Street
(401) 766-0900
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