5 Things to Know for VITA’s 50th Birthday

1.  Non-spoiler alert: this year, VITA turns 50! The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program began operation in 1969, and provides free, high-quality tax preparation for low to moderate-income taxpayers. VITA is powered by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers.

2.   VITA brings back billions of dollars to communities across the country. VITA’s stellar volunteer preparers help hardworking Americans to access the credits they’ve earned, like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits allow recipients to become financially stable by expanding their income enough to pay for rent, reliable transportation to work, and groceries. In 2018, thousands of VITA volunteers prepared millions of returns, and brought back $1.9 billion to communities across the country.

Reports from the IRS indicate that 731 Federal tax returns were filed by VITA partners funded by Berkshire United Way last year, returning $1million out of $2.2 million VITA dollars returned to Berkshire County residents. Thank you to Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation for joining us in this effort!

3.  Congress recently increased funding for the VITA program. In the latest spending package to pass Congress (FY19), funding for the VITA program was increased by 20% to $18 million. We’re grateful that decision makers recognize the value of VITA and the service it provides to our community, please join us in thanking Congress for their support! 

4.  Most VITA programs operate at full capacity. While the recent increase in funding was great news, the truth is that many VITA programs operate at full capacity and are not able to serve all those eligible in their communities. Therefore, we’re calling on Congress to further shore up investments in the program for Fiscal Year 2020. Join us by adding your organization to this sign-on letter, and by sending an email to your Member of Congress. 

5.  VITA is not a permanent program. Since 2008 VITA has been a demonstration pilot program. Congress has to authorize it every year. We think a great 50^th birthday present from Congress would be to make the program permanent! Ask your Member of Congress today!

To make your appointment for free tax prep through the VITA program, please call us at 413.442.6948 today!

Julie Singley

Program Manager, Community Impact

berkshireunitedway.org

FREE tax prep is available!

Here at Berkshire United Way, we are entering our second year of coordinating the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Great Barrington and Lee. VITA is a free tax preparation program for individuals and families making $55,000 or less. Together with our funded VITA partners at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, we returned $1 million out of the total $2.2 million VITA dollars returned to Berkshire County residents last year.

VITA volunteers Alan Thiel and Jennifer Moriarty help a client with her tax return.

Our VITA sites opened on Monday, February 4^th at the Berkshire Community College South County Center in Great Barrington. We’re currently scheduling appointments for free tax prep at the following five locations: Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Construct, Berkshire Community College South County Center, Community Health Programs in Great Barrington and October Mountain Financial Advisors in Lee - simply call 413.442.6948.

We could not do this work without our funded partners who are available to help residents in other parts of the county. If a central county or hill town location is more convenient for you, we encourage you to contact Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at 413.442.0002 or the Hilltown Community Development Center at 413.296.4536 x100.

In addition, MCLA has partnered with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and Berkshire United Way to offer free tax prep on campus for students and members of the community.

Regardless of where you are in Berkshire County - free tax prep for qualifying individuals and families is just a call away.

James Swinchoski
VISTA Volunteer and VITA site coordinator

Preparing to put money back in the pockets of local residents

Last tax season, 731 Federal tax returns filed by Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partners funded by Berkshire United Way returned $1 million of the total $2.2 million VITA dollars returned to Berkshire County residents!

It’s been a busy November as we begin preparations for the upcoming tax season with our VITA partners at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation.

VITA  partners from Berkshire United Way, the Hilltown Community Development Corporation and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity meet to prepare for the upcoming tax season.

In collaboration with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, we recently hosted a tax training for self-employed members of the community. Accountant Dorine Lasky from Chester, Massachusetts, facilitated the training to help local, self-employed individuals – a need that was identified last VITA season.

Ten people representing local businesses attended the training and according to Ms. Lasky, "Questions and answers flowed...a good mix of backgrounds and professions made it an enjoyable and informative two hours." 

One small business owner commented, "Her explanations were clear and concise, she was very friendly and was able to answer many different questions on tax and accounting topics ranging from what percentage of your small business at home qualifies for a deduction to how to help contracted workers with their taxes.” Our partners at the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, will be hosting a similar training with Ms. Lasky this winter.

In addition to the training, informational sessions were held for VITA volunteers who will give their time and talent as greeters and tax preparers. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity will host volunteer trainings in December and January and Berkshire United Way will offer additional information sessions as additional volunteers sign up.

Our goal is to exceed the number of tax returns filed last year, so we can put even more money back in the pockets of local residents. For more information on how you can help, please contact me at james.swinchoski@berkshireunitedway.org, or give me a call at 413-442-6948 ext. 36.

I look forward to hearing from you!

James Swinchoski

Economic Prosperity VISTA

Give back to your community through VITA!

Six years ago, the Internal Revenue Service asked us to partner with them and our local community to expand the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, together. VITA is free tax preparation and filing for individuals or families making less than $55k a year. The goal is to maximize tax credits and refunds, to put more money back in the pockets of low-income working families. 

This is truly life changing for some residents, like Maria. Maria, the divorced mother of a nine-year old child, tried to do her taxes herself and discovered she owed money to the IRS. She had made an appointment to have her taxes done in South County through the VITA program and almost didn't show up, because she couldn't afford to pay what she thought she owed.

With the help of a VITA volunteer, Maria actually wound up with a refund of $4,160. Maria was overwhelmed with emotion upon receiving this life-changing news. Her car was in disrepair and this refund enabled her to get her car back on the road, with money left over to pay some bills! 

Berkshire United Way will be offering VITA services at three locations this coming tax season—Berkshire South Regional Community Center and Berkshire Community College, South Campus in Great Barrington, and October Mountain Financial Advisors in Lee. We are currently looking for volunteers to fill several roles, so we can serve as many people as possible.

If you do not know much about taxes, don’t fret! Berkshire United Way offers training for tax preparers and reviewers; there are also other positions, which don’t require tax certification, such as greeting clients and serving as an interpreter. The hours are flexible, the training is free, and the time commitment is entirely up to you.

I invite you to email me at jswinchoski@berkshireunitedway.org or give me a call at 413.442.6948 x36 if you are interested in giving back to your community as a VITA volunteer. If you are interested in helping, but don’t live or work in south county, we can connect you with our VITA partners at additional sites throughout the county, including the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, Berkshire Community Action Council, Williams College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (in conjunction with their Business Department), and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.

I look forward to hearing from you!

James Swinchoski

Economic Prosperity VISTA

Prosperous Partnership with AmeriCorps

Greetings! My name is James Swinchoski and I am the current Economic Prosperity VISTA at Berkshire United Way – in partnership with the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program. The VISTA program is a national service program designed to help end poverty. My tenure will be from August 2018 to August 2019 as a part of an AmeriCorps year of service.

James Swinchoski, AmeriCorps VISTA intern in Economic Prosperity.

I am a recent graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. I held concentrations in Psychology and Sociology – with a double minor in Social Work and Social Justice Studies. My aim with wedding these programs together was to learn about community organization on a micro and macro level as well as creating positive change our community.

I previously interned with the North Adams Friendship Center – helping them survey those in need of meal support and social services. I also helped them with web development and assisted with the food pantry, while I honed my grant writing skills and so much more.

In the coming year, I will be working with Berkshire United Way on their Economic Prosperity Impact Council (EPIC) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs, assisting our with free tax preparation and recruiting young people to the Berkshires and helping them get the training they need to thrive here (EPIC).

I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to build a stronger community and have had a great couple of weeks here at Berkshire United Way. I will be posting updates from time to time, so expect to hear more from me in the weeks and months ahead!

Warmest regards,

James, VISTA Volunteer

Improving financial futures all year long

Each April, the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) encourages people to take action to improve their financial futures. Here at Berkshire United Way, we work year-round to help families along the path to sustainable incomes. We support programs that match individuals seeking employment with open jobs, and provide college students with paid internship opportunities. 

Click for resources on how to unlock your financial future.

Free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is another way we are helping build economic prosperity for all. On March 24, 2018, Berkshire United Way hosted a taxathon at Berkshire South Regional Community Center. In addition to free tax prep, our community partners at Berkshire Community Action Council - Fuel Assistance, Community Health Programs – Women, Infants, and Children, Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, and Greylock Federal Credit Union, were on hand to provide information on financial literacy programs.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this VITA season a success – clients, volunteer tax preparers, greeters, host sites and other community partners. Preliminary reports indicate 109 tax returns were filed by Berkshire United Way, resulting in over $101,000 in additional funds circulating in south county communities.  In addition, 593 returns were filed by our VITA partners in Pittsfield (Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity) and the hilltowns (Hilltown Community Development Corp.) which resulted in an additional $861,000. I’d also like to give a special shout out to our VITA hosts – Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Community Health Programs, and October Mountain Financial Advisors in Lee. We could not have done it without you!

I invite you to email me at jsingley@berkshireunitedway.org or give me a call at 413.442.6948 x32, if you are interested in using your time and talent to help others improve their financial future.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Julie
Program Manager, Community Impact

Put money back in your pocket!

Maria* is the divorced mother of a nine-year old son who tried to do her taxes herself and discovered she owed money to the IRS. She made an appointment to have her taxes done through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Berkshire United Way and almost didn't show up, because she couldn't afford to pay what she thought she owed. 

VITA volunteer, Pat Callahan, prepared Maria's return, looking for every credit she might be eligible for. Maria wound up with a refund of $4,160, and $3,362 of that was the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Maria was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning about her return. Her car is currently in disrepair. This refund will enable her to get her car back on the road, with money left over to pay some bills! 

“I can't thank the VITA volunteers enough for helping me prepare my taxes! They were so knowledgeable, thorough, patient and kind. I can honestly say they changed my life that afternoon from thinking I owed taxes to looking at a substantial, much appreciated refund. It was amazing and I am really grateful.”    - Maria

To make an appointment for free tax preparation** through Berkshire United Way’s VITA sites in Lee or Great Barrington, please call 413.442.6948.  Appointments are also available through our community partners at additional sites throughout the county.

Berkshire United Way is hosting a Taxathon on Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berkshire South Regional Community Center, where free tax prep will be available by IRS certified volunteers. Appointments are highly recommended, however, walk-ins are welcome, provided they arrive by 3 p.m. and volunteer preparers are available. All clients MUST bring photo IDs, social security cards (either originals or photocopies), and tax forms for every member of their household.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Julie
Program Manager, Community Impact

*At the service recipient’s request we are not using her real name
**Household income must be $54,000 or less

VITA volunteers make a difference!

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people with individual/household incomes of less than $54,000 a year, who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.  

Through this free service, volunteers help qualified individuals obtain refunds up to $6,044.  In 2017, the VITA program in Berkshire County resulted in over $1.7 million of additional funds circulating in our community!

Berkshire United Way will offer VITA services at two new South County locations this coming tax season - Berkshire South Regional Community Center and Community Health Programs (CHP) in Great Barrington.  We are currently seeking volunteers for a number of roles, so that we can serve as many people in South County as possible through this program.

Volunteering for the VITA program can be a rewarding experience. Don’t know that much about taxes? Don’t worry — you’ll receive specialized training if you’d like to be a tax preparer or reviewer OR you can choose a volunteer role that doesn’t require tax certification. There are many opportunities to help, ranging from greeting everyone who visits the site, to providing language interpreter services.  The hours are flexible, the training is free and the time commitment is up to you.

I invite you to email me at jsingley@berkshireunitedway.org or give me a call at 413.442.6948 x32, if you are interested in sharing your time and talent to build a stronger community here in the Berkshires by helping hard working families.

If you’re interested in helping, but don’t live or work in South County, our community partners are coordinating additional VITA sites throughout the county and are looking for volunteers: Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Hilltown CDC, Northern Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Community Action Council, and Williams College.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Julie

Program Manager, Community Impact