Thousands of households in our region received more than $7 million in tax refunds and saved thousands in preparation fees through United Way of South Central Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program this past year.
VITA is a volunteer-focused tax service dedicated to making a meaningful impact on individuals and families with limited incomes through free tax preparation. Serving nine counties (Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Montcalm, Shiawassee, and Washtenaw) across Michigan, the United Way-run program fosters economic stability while empowering people in community.
During the 2023-24 tax season:
- 6,020 individuals have been served, including all taxpayers, spouses, and dependents.
- 4,824 federal returns have been filed, with an additional 200+ returns currently in process.
- 4,858 State returns have been filed, and there are also 200+ in progress.
- 1,136 Home Heating Credit Claims have been filed.
- The total refunds issued amount to $7,244,475
VITA saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax preparation fees, said VITA Director Michelle Wasylecki. They can then use those dollars to boost the local economy by purchasing basic necessities and achieving financial goals such as purchasing assets like cars or homes.
“My favorite part about VITA is getting to work with a large group of partners, volunteers, and seeing the positive results for the individuals we serve,” she said.
One example she shared was that of a couple facing tax foreclosure on their home. After not filing their taxes for 3 years, they came to the VITA program, where they received roughly $30,000 in refunds and were able to save their home from foreclosure.
VITA staff are excited to continue services into the 2024-25 tax season, Wasylecki said, and looks forward to debuting a new mobile tax preparation unit in the coming months. This will better serve individuals who have limited access to services because of barriers to transportation and lack of tax sites in remote locations.
For more information on how VITA can assist you on your taxes, or how you can volunteer, visit vitataxprep.org/.
