Charlottesville, Virginia (January 19, 2023) — Madison House, the independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and the UVA Community Credit Union to offer free tax preparation services for residents in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Together, these organizations form the Cville Tax Aid Coalition.
“The Cville Tax Aid Coalition aims to help taxpayers who earn less than $62,000 annually save money on tax preparation fees and claim tax credits for which they are eligible, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. According to the IRS, more than 20% of eligible taxpayers do not claim these credits,” says Sydnee Pottebaum, a Graduate Fellow at Madison House who supports the volunteer income tax assistance programs. “Claiming these credits can be difficult because they vary by family size, income, and filing status. Our IRS-trained volunteers help ensure that taxpayers get all of the tax credits for which they may qualify.”
Formerly led by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Madison House has taken over leadership of the Cville Tax Aid Coalition. This year, Madison House recruited more than 190 volunteer tax preparers who will meet face-to-face with clients. In addition to in-person appointments, Madison House offers drop-off service and provides access to free online tax preparation software for those who want to do their own taxes. The UVA Community Credit Union also offers in-person and drop-off services at several branch locations. Spanish-speaking services are available in-person through Habitat for Humanity at the Southwood Community Center.
“We want to reach more taxpayers than ever before,” says Pottebaum. “While our priority is to serve people earning less than $62,000 per year, there are also options for people earning a bit more. One of the links on our website connects to a free self-filing tax preparation program that allows people earning up to $73,000 annually to input and file their own taxes at their convenience.”
The economic impact of the tax aid program goes beyond maximizing refunds for individuals and families, in that it brings dollars back into the local economy and improves community members’ financial health and stability.
To learn more about tax preparation services available through the Cville Tax Aid Coalition, visit MadisonHouse.org/freetaxprep
