30 Volunteers from The Ethel Walker School Offer Free Assistance to Low Income Households
Students and volunteers from The Ethel Walker School will provide FREE personal tax filing assistance for Hartford residents. Twenty five students from the all-girls school have completed training to receive IRS certification through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in partnership with United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, the IRS, and the Village for Children and Families. VITA volunteers help taxpayers correctly prepare basic federal and Connecticut state tax forms. Five adult volunteers from The Ethel Walker School faculty and staff are also trained as preparers to assist the students.
Families and individuals making less than $54,000 per year regardless of household size or age, can seek help on Wednesday, April 11 from 4:00-7:00 pm and Sunday, April 8 and April 15 from 1:00-4:00 pm at Hands on Hartford located at 55 Bartholomew Street, Hartford. Appointments can be made by calling 211 or book online at (www.bookeo.com/211tax)
Last year was the first year that Walker’s students participated in the VITA program. They were instrumental in helping tax filers in the greater Hartford area receive more than $17M in refunds, including more than $4M in the Earned Income Tax Credit. The students acquired confidence and gained financial literacy as they worked hard to secure refunds for clients.By April 17th this year, the volunteers will have performed close to 900 hours of service including training and on-site work. The team has completed almost 50 tax returns to date.