Free tax preparation is available for Chautauqua County residents who qualify, and appointments can be made by contacting 211 Western New York.
Each year, the United Ways of Chautauqua County administer the federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program locally, training volunteers to prepare income tax returns at no charge to residents.
“We are chartered to assist low-to-moderate income taxpayers with a household income of $64,000 or less,” said Joe Kwiatkowski, coordinator of the VITA program for the United Ways of northern and southern Chautauqua County. “We also prepare tax returns for citizens with disabilities and with limited English proficiency.”
The primary focus of the VITA program is securing Earned Income Tax Credits for working families. The goal of United Way and its volunteers is to ensure that 100% of individuals’ refunds are returned to the taxpayers locally.
Last year, the VITA program in Chautauqua County generated more than $2.1 million in tax returns for 2,100 individuals and 1,550 households.
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