Free Tax Preparation at IIRI Saves Clients Thousands

For the past six years IIRI has been offering the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to the community.

Juan Lopes earned $16,000 in 2005, working full-time in a local manufacturing company.  When it came time for Juan to file his income tax return for 2005, he went to a local branch of a national tax preparation company and paid a total of $366 to have his tax return prepared.   The company charged separate fees for the tax preparation, e-filing, and copy of the tax return.  This year, with similar income, Juan came to the International Institute’s free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).  His tax return was prepared by a qualified, volunteer tax preparer and e-filed at no cost.  Juan was so pleased about this free service that he vowed to tell all of his friends at work to come to IIRI next year to have their taxes prepared. 

With support from a collaborative grant through John Hope Settlement Center and the United Way, Facilities Manager Maria Encarnacion coordinated the VITA program at IIRI, recruiting 10 volunteers, many of them bi-lingual, to the program. Volunteers received 30 hours of IRS training and become certified by the IRS to prepare tax returns.  IIRI served 357 low income clients, saving them an estimated $75,000 in tax preparation fees.  A total of $1.2 million in Earned Income tax credits were processed for these clients.

“We are pleased that we have been able to provide this important service to local residents,” Maria stated.  “The families and individuals we helped were so grateful to receive this free assistance.  Many of them found out that they qualified for low income tax credits that they weren’t even aware of.” 

At a recent recognition event held by the IRS, Maria and her team were recognized for their outstanding public service to the community by Congressman James Langevin, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, and IRS Territory Manager Jodonna Powell.