“We’re looking at helping people maximize their income because they can do a lot with that tax return or the money they save,” said Ravi Respeto, president and CEO of the local United Way. “One of our goals is to promote financial stability. The money they can get back, the money they can save by not paying to have their taxes done, is money they can spend on rent or food or pay bills or fix a car.”

Called Cville Tax Aid, the program partners with IRS-trained University of Virginia student volunteers through the Madison House Creating Assets, Savings and Hope program, otherwise known as CASH.

COVID has had an impact on the United Way’s program as well. In any normal year, more than 180 UVa students, trained in tax preparation, meet area clients face-to-face. This year there were 263 volunteers trained and ready to return tax filings.

Read the rest of this Daily Progress story here.