2021-Leaders-United-Quarterly-Q1-ReaderSpreads-v4 - Flipbook - Page 4
A REAL IMPACT
Kaleena’s Story
When Kaleena lost her job at an elementary school
due to a lack of funding, she desperately needed to
find work. She applied for and accepted a position as a
ramp agent with an airline. But with this new job came
a significant pay cut. Although Kaleena is working, the
change in pay affected her financial stability—she fell
behind on bills and could no longer afford childcare.
Then Kaleena found out she qualified for the EITC. The
credit helped Kaleena cushion her savings so that she
could put some toward childcare each month.
Saving Our Neighbors Money
Not only does VITA help individuals and families
maximize their tax returns, but it saves them real
cash in the process. The average cost to have
taxes prepared by a paid service is around $300.
And that’s for a simple return. When you add in
complicated situations or throw in a tax credit,
that cost increases. For those living in poverty,
not having to pay that $300 can keep them
having to make tough choices like feeding their
families or falling behind on bills.
4
For those living in poverty, not
having to pay that $300 can
keep them having to make
tough choices like feeding
their families or falling
behind on bills.
Access to Vital Credits
Connecting to Financial Services
The Earned Income Tax Credit is an important
federal tool that lifts millions out of poverty,
returning nearly $63 billion to eligible taxpayers
each year. The IRS estimates that nationally 78
percent of all who are eligible receive the EITC.
But that means that 22 percent of taxpayers don’t
claim the credit they deserve. Our IRS-certified
tax preparers are trained with the knowledge
to help taxpayers access those credits so that
money goes right back into their pockets. VITA
volunteers help our neighbors access the EITC
and other common credits at no cost, helping to
remove those barriers to success.
What makes VITA unique is the holistic approach
it takes to help empower community members
to take control of their finances. Often, VITA
volunteers connect community members to other
important services like the Financial Empowerment
Center, a partnership between the Mayor’s Office
and United Way of Greater Nashville. Financial
counselors at the FEC provide free, one-on-one
counseling to help people build assets, save for the
future, improve their credit and get out of debt.
Unite d Way of Greater Nas h v i l l e
Counselors often help taxpayers manage their
return and take the next step in building a solid
foundation—for now and in the future.
James’ Story
When James and his wife had their first child, they
struggled to make ends meet, even though James was
working two part-time jobs. With a busy schedule and
a limited paycheck, James was forced to ride a bike
to school, his internship, work and the grocery store,
often pedaling home to his family late at night. When
James found out he qualified for the EITC, it changed
everything. Because of the credit, James was able to
save up enough money to buy a car to take care of his
family’s needs.
Jody’s Story
After working hard in high school, Jody’s two children
were accepted to multiple universities. Jody wanted to
help them make the best decisions they could, but long
road trips, overnight stays and time away from work for
campus tours can be near impossible for a hardworking
single mother. Then Jody had her taxes prepared at
no cost. The volunteer she worked with told her she
qualified for the EITC, and Jody knew exactly how she
was going to use the money from her return: college
visits. The visits helped Jody’s son and daughter find
the campuses that were the best fit, and now Jody can
feel confident that she did everything she could for her
kids to have a good shot at a better life.
U nited Way of Greater Nas h ville
5