United Way of Southwest Alabama is now scheduling appointments for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, providing free tax preparation for eligible individuals and families.

The VITA program helps individuals and families file accurate tax returns, claim all eligible credits, and avoid costly tax preparation fees. Trained volunteers complete IRS certification each year and follow strict quality review procedures to ensure returns are prepared correctly before filing. Many taxpayers qualify for valuable credits such as the Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit, which can make a meaningful difference for working households.

Brad Martin, VITA Program Coordinator, said every return prepared represents a family working hard to make ends meet. He shared that volunteers understand how much these refunds matter and take great care to help neighbors keep more of what they earn so they can cover essentials, reduce stress, and move forward with greater stability.

Last tax season, VITA volunteers made a significant local impact. Thirty volunteers contributed 1,830 service hours and helped file 1,360 tax returns, securing 1,325,839 dollars in total refunds. The program served 1,907 individuals, including taxpayers and dependents, helping families cover essentials such as housing, food, and education expenses.

VITA services are available to

• People who generally make 69,000 dollars or less
• Persons with disabilities
• Limited English-speaking taxpayers

VITA services are available at

• Bay Haas Building – RSVP Mobile
• Chickasaw
• Goodwill Azalea
• Goodwill Gordon Smith
• Goodwill Fort Walton Beach
• Mobile Public Library West Regional
• New Horizons West

Schedule an appointment at https://is.gd/taxschedules or call 211 at 888.421.1266. Appointment times remain limited, and United Way adds more throughout the tax season as volunteers are available to serve.

United Way of Southwest Alabama helps families keep more of what they earn by providing safe, accurate, and free tax preparation across the community.

For more information, contact Brad Martin at bmartin@uwswa.org or 251.433.3624.