Tax-Filing Help Is There For Greater Hartford Residents

HARTFORD, CT — Let's face it, tax time is always an anxiety-inducing annual pastime, especially when it comes to navigating the ever-more-complex rules and regulations of paying Uncle Sam.

But for qualifying folks in the greater Hartford area, there is help available.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is back to offer free federal and state income tax preparation and filing for Connecticut residents with annual household incomes of up to $60,000.

Locally, multiple area agencies are funding the availability of help that will help people meet the April 15 tax deadline.

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, The Village for Families & Children in Hartford and Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA), are partnering to kick off VITA, helping qualifying residents file their taxes at no charge.

The goal is to help individuals and families get ahead financially, pay down debt and work toward saving for the future.

VITA services have been a free, professional, and trusted resource for nearly 30 years.

All VITA volunteers are certified-IRS tax professionals who must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards.

This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. VITA offers three convenient ways to connect with a trained tax professional, including: Drop off appointments; In-person assistance; and virtual VITA submissions.

“With tax season approaching, we want to make sure that everyone in our community knows that there’s tax filing help available,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. “We’re so grateful for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance campaign, which offers free tax help to residents with a household income up to $60,000."

“VITA not only saves people on tax prep but it helps them access thousands of dollars in tax refunds. That money is crucial for paying rent, buying groceries, car repairs and other costs. With inflation eroding every family’s purchasing power, this year’s VITA initiative is more important than ever,” said Galo Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer at The Village for Families & Children in Hartford, a nonprofit agency providing aid to Hartford-area families.

“This initiative not only supports hard-working families claiming every tax credit and refund they have earned, but also provides many volunteers with the opportunity to give back to the community. VITA would not exist without the hundreds of volunteer tax professionals who drive the success of the campaign, giving their time and getting the certifications needed to meet IRS standards. We value and appreciate that tremendously,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.

To register for VITA in the Greater Hartford, Tolland and Windham areas, visit 211ct.org/taxhelp or dial 2-1-1, press 3 then 6 to get your free tax preparation appointment scheduled. United Way 211 is a free, multilingual information and referral hotline, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make an appointment in the New Britain area, visit www.hranbct.org/VITA or dial 860-356-2000.

For a complete list of required documents needed for VITA Tax Preparation, go to https://uwc.211ct.org/vita-docs/.

For more information on The Village for Families & Children in Hartford, click on this link.