Saving Money is Hard, Let us Make it Easier
This February, we will feature one of United Way of Southwest Alabama’s (UWSWA) internal programs, VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. This program provides free tax assistance to at seven of our locations and an additional ten locations across Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile and Washington Counties.
Brad Martin, UWSWA’s VITA Coordinator, notes “The guidelines state services are for a family of four (4) making $56,000.00 or less can receive assistance at one of our tax preparation locations.”
This program fits into one of the UWSWA’s four building blocks – financial stability. In 2019, UWSWA volunteers filed taxes for 1067 people with refunds totaling $1,019, 208. By utilizing this program, individuals can get free IRS approved tax preparation, thus saving them money on filing. Also, the money owed to them comes back to them – they do not have to sign it away.
The money saved directly affects over 1000 people in Mobile County and an additional 1883 people at the other SAFE Coalition locations. The money saved can be used to pay rent, to purchase food, to buy medicine, to save for the future.
Note: The volunteers are IRS trained and certified. To see the locations, please visit www.uwswa.org.