A local organization offering financial assistance to residents hopes to limit debt in the area by returning money to the community.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is run through the Northern Arizona United Way and offers tax assistance to residents who make less than $42,000 per year. 

Through VITA’s help, which includes filing people’s taxes, residents can receive up to $4,824 in tax credit. If a family earns less than $18,000 per year, they are not required to file taxes but could miss out on up to $4,200 in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) returns. 

Clover Collard, the director of community partnerships, said EITC returns are important for their financial benefits.

“These returns allow (people) to care for their families,” Collard said. “The process of not filing is not worth losing $4,000.”

Tax assistance takes place at VITA sites throughout northern Arizona.

At these locations, families meet with screeners who match clients with the appropriate volunteer depending on the nature of the client’s case.

This process can take up to three hours.

“A few hours is worth a few thousand dollars; from the line outside, I think people agree with us,” Collard said, referring to the families crowding the halls of Coconino High School, waiting for a volunteer.

Sara Charbonneau, a volunteer and senior financing and marketing major, said despite the crowds, clients keep a positive attitude, which shows after discovering how much money they will be receiving.

“The more money they get back, the happier they are,” Charbonneau said. “(You) get to know people when they see how much they are getting back.”

Once the client leaves, the volunteer passes the paperwork to VITA’s supervisors, who check if errors have been made in the process. Once all the numbers are verified, it takes up to two weeks for returns to arrive.

Tom Broderick, a site coordinator, said VITA employees work hard even after the client has left, when all the paperwork must be organized to maximize returns.

“We try to figure out various ways to get the credit for them,” Broderick said. “(We want) to get the most for people, and we do.”

Despite the success of VITA, more than $8 million in returns went unclaimed in 2008. 

“It is all sitting with people who do not file,” Collard said. “We have to build a trust with people for them to come to us.”

In response to the unclaimed money, VITA began advertising their sites more prominently, which has paid off for residents who were previously unaware of the program. 

Having already gathered nearly $200,000 in returns by Jan. 31, VITA is on pace to surpass their numbers from last year, as they are slated to continue that trend leading up to the April 15 deadline to file taxes.

“We are getting better every year,” Broderick said. “(With) a very helpful system, it is quality work. It is very helpful to the community.”