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Group Offering Free Tax Preparation Services

Posted: 12:41 PM Jan 22, 2013

Group Offering Free Tax Preparation Services

January 22, 2013

A free tax program kicked off Tuesday that helped low to moderate-income residents in central Virginia collectively save millions of dollars last year.

The Thomas Jefferson Area Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition is helping taxpayers who earned less than $51,000 in 2012 by doing their taxes for free.

The Coalition, made up of a number of local agencies, completed about 2,100 returns last year, bringing in lots of money for local taxpayers.

"Between credits and refunds, federal and state, over $3 million were returned to the community to tax payers," said Barbara Hutchinson, director of community initiatives for United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. "We think that is a significant number the community should be proud of."

Organizers say they are hoping to top that number this year.

The IRS is not accepting any returns until January 30 this year, but the Coalition is still able to get started right away.

"We can go ahead and prepare taxes this week and even though they aren't officially filed, they are stored on a server and we just have to hit a button for them to be in the hands of the IRS first thing on the 30th," said Hutchinson.

The program runs until April 15. There are locations in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Green and Louisa counties.

For a full list of locations and more information about the program, click here.