Volunteer Hernando Helps Taxpayers Receive Thousands

United Way of Hernando County, in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, spearheaded the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for Hernando County. Between January and April 15, Volunteer Hernando volunteers prepared free tax returns for more than 700 residents in the county, resulting in refunds totaling a quarter of a million dollars. More than 95 percent of these returns were e-filed.

E-filing provides a more accurate return with a faster refund. Eighteen percent of these filers requested their refunds be direct deposited into their checking and/or savings accounts. When electing direct deposit, the refund check is received within seven days. The Earned Income Tax Credit was claimed by 88 filers and totaled $87,694.

Other tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit and Education Credit, brought even more revenue into filers' pockets and benefited the entire community. The VITA Free Tax Preparation sites were located at Career Central, Spring Hill, Mid Florida Community Services, Brooksville, and the Spring Hill Library.

The Economic Stimulus Payment (tax rebate) Program increased activity for the VITA program this year. The Volunteer Hernando volunteers prepared hundreds of free tax returns for people who do not normally file. If people had at least $3,000 from any combination of wages, self-employment or certain Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, or from veterans, pension, survivor's compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the volunteers helped them file to get a $300 rebate.

Qualified people can still file through Oct. 15 to claim the tax rebate this year. Additional information about the Economic Stimulus Payments can be obtained by calling 1-800-829-1040 or visiting www.irs.gov.

If interested in volunteer opportunities with Volunteer Hernando, call the United Way of Hernando County at 352-688-2026 or visit www.unitedwayhernando.com