Tampa Bay tax-help programs have fewer appointments, but lots of demand
Coronavirus safety concerns have limited the number of sites and reduced the number of volunteers for some tax-assistance programs for low-income people.
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Volunteer Kim Grieder, 59, right, speaks with client Sheryl Naime, 50, of Hudson Thursday in Port Richey. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which is run by the IRS, is one of the main providers of free tax prep services for low-income residents across Tampa Bay, many of whom are seniors. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Updated Yesterday
PORT RICHEY â âHey, wassup,â Kim Grieder said, greeting an orange Mini Cooper full of tax-assistance clients on Thursday afternoon. âIâve got your taxes for you.â
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Increased need for free tax prep leads TCU to ask for more volunteers
VACAVILLE Travis Credit Union’s annual free tax preparation service, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, is at capacity for intake, with many more community members requesting help.
The credit union reports in a press release that several nonprofit organizations that also normally offer this service are not opening this year, resulting in the increased calls to Travis Credit Union for assistance.
Travis Credit Union, one of the first sites in Solano County to open with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety protocols in place, was able to open at the beginning of tax season and will continue to provide this service to the community, according to the press release.
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VITA volunteers are helping people prepare their taxes with outdoor drop offs this year
Tracy Lehr /NewsChannel 3-12
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program known as VITA is helping people who make $66,000 or less prepare their income taxes again this year, but due to the COVID19 pandemic they have fewer locations and volunteers.
VITA is also taking the information from clients outdoors and letting them pick them up when they are complete. I m here to have my taxes prepped and, um, it is actually going fairly quick. I thought it was going to take a lot longer, but it is fairly quick, this is new outside. I like the distancing, said Yoli Terriquez while in line at VITA s Police Activities League (PAL) location.