Individuals, families earning less than $70,000 in 2021 are eligible for free tax prep services  

 JANUARY 28, 2022, GREATER NASHVILLE, TENN.—Today, United Way of Greater Nashville and partner agencies officially kicked off the 18th annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) free tax prep program.   U.S. Representative Jim Cooper, along with United Way representatives and local leadership, hosted a kickoff at Westwood Baptist Church Center to announce the kickoff of VITA season.   Through VITA, IRS-certified tax preparers provide free tax preparation services to individuals and families who earned $70,000 or less per household in 2021. This program helps qualifying individuals receive important credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit that lift millions out of poverty each year. Now through April, United Way is partnering to operate 19 VITA sites throughout Middle Tennessee, including five locations in Williamson County:   
  • Spring Hill Public Library (144 Kedron Pkwy, Spring Hill, TN 37174) 
  • FiftyForward-College Grove (8607 Horton Highway, College Grove, TN 37046) 
  • GraceWorks Ministries (104 Southeast Pkwy., Ste. 100, Franklin, TN 37064) 
  • Triangle School (7120 Westview Drive, Fairview, TN 37062) 
  • Williamson County Public Library (1314 Columbia Ave., Franklin, TN 37064) 
Visit unitedwayfilefree.com for details about dates and hours, appointments and walk-in availability.   The average taxpayer spends $300 to have their taxes prepared and filed at paid tax service providers, often paying high interest to receive rapid refund loans. Thanks to the VITA free tax prep program, volunteers help low- to moderate-income individuals save crucial dollars that could go toward bills and basic needs. For tax year 2020, the VITA program completed 6,700 returns, helping taxpayers save more than $2 million in tax preparation fees and bringing more than $10 million in federal refunds back to the community.  “The VITA free tax prep program helps thousands of individuals save by keeping their full tax return in their pockets,” said Brian Hassett, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville. “One of United Way’s core focus areas is helping our neighbors keep more of what they earn so that every individual has a chance at a better life—which is why many people across Middle Tennessee depend on our VITA program during tax season. VITA partnerships ensure that our hard-working neighbors are able to use their income for essentials like rent, putting food on the table, child care and transportation.”  Taxpayers can find their nearest VITA site and more information about the program by visiting UnitedWayFileFree.com or through United Way’s 211 Helpline by calling 211 or texting their ZIP code to 898211.  

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About United Way of Greater Nashville   At United Way, we unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and family thrives. Together, we are fighting for a community where every child receives a quality education, no one lives in poverty or poor health, and the most basic needs of our families are met. We are uniquely positioned to the lead this fight by bringing individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government to the table to have the tough conversations, mobilize the resources and make the smart investments that will create lasting solutions for our region’s most pressing issues. LIVE UNITED. For more information, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org and follow us on social media @UWNashville.