The tax code is increasingly used as a tool to alleviate poverty; reward work and help individuals and working families supplement their wages and to build economic stability. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit for eligible working filers, can make a substantial difference in a working family’s annual earnings. However, 23% of eligible filers do not apply for this credit, which annually cost San Antonio families and the community over $86 million. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites assist communities across the nation, including San Antonio, help reach families and individuals who need FREE tax preparation during the tax season and now year round as well as close the gap of eligible EITC claimants.
The San Antonio Coalition for Family Economic Progress
In November 2001, the Annie E. Casey Foundation
and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) partnered with the
City of San Antonio’s Department of Community Initiatives (DCI),
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, Catholic Charities,
Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc., to form the San Antonio Coalition
for Family Economic Progress. The Coalition now includes local
colleges, universities, businesses and banking institutions.
The mission of the Coalition is to help working
individuals and families’ achieve financial independence by
providing them with opportunities and education to build, save and
protect their financial assets. The focal
point for this effort is the Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) Program. Through the VITA
program, volunteers provide free income tax assistance and tax
information to taxpayers.
The VITA program continues to expand each year.
During the 2007 tax filing season, VITA volunteers operated
27 VITA sites located throughout the city and completed 35,000
returns, a 12% increase over the number of
returns completed last year. More than $52,000,000 in refunds was
returned to the San Antonio community
through local VITA locations.
Without the help of the volunteers who participate
in the VITA program, many whom return each tax-filing
season, the Coalition could not continue to expand, reaching an
increasing number of San Antonio's working
families and individuals.
202 West French Pl. | San Antonio, TX 78212 | www.vitasa.org