United Way Of SWLA Offers Free Tax Prep Services

On Monday, United Way of SWLA announced that open registration has begun for their free tax initiative, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance also known as VITA. This is a government program that offers free tax services/help to taxpayers who make $54,000 or less a year, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and people with limited English-speaking abilities who need assistance preparing their tax returns.

These IRS-certified volunteers are providing free basic income tax return preparation, with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The services are taking place at area community and neighborhood centers, libraries, shopping malls, schools, and various other locations in SWLA. Monday, Denise Durel, United Way of SWLA President/CEO, explained how the tax prep program can help,

“Almost 22% of families qualified to receive the EITC, and similar credits do not claim it,” Durel continued. “Our volunteers ensure everyone gets the credits they’re entitled to while saving them from costly prep fees or refund anticipation loans.”

If you would like to take advantage of this free tax incentive, call LA 211 to make an appointment for services. Specify if you want in-person or drop-off tax prep assistance and the location of choice. There are several sites in the five-parish SWLA region open for appointments. Click HERE to view an up-to-date list of locations to find one nearest you. unitedwayswla.org/vita or by dialing 211, according to United Way.

VITA volunteers are needed, if you can help please sign-up HERE. Any business, organization, or agency willing to host a VITA site can call (337) 433-1088 ext. 210.

LOOK: What 25 Historic Battlefields Look Like Today

The following is an examination of what became of the sites where America waged its most important and often most brutal campaigns of war. Using a variety of sources, Stacker selected 25 historically significant battlefields in American history. For each one, Stacker investigated what happened there when the battles raged as well as what became of those hallowed grounds when the fighting stopped.

These are the battlefields that defined the United States military’s journey from upstart Colonial rebels to an invincible global war machine.

Filed Under: free VITA services, United Way of SWLA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance