Oakland Park Helps Residents Collect More Than $140,000 in Tax Refunds
Now that tax season is here, the City of Oakland Park is partnering with Hispanic Unity of Florida on a free Internal Revenue Service (IRS) program called VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance).
Qualified VITA volunteers will prepare income tax returns for low-income families at no charge, enabling residents to file their taxes and often receive tax refunds. “The Library is thrilled to partner with Hispanic Unity of Florida to bring the IRS VITA program to residents of Oakland Park and the surrounding areas. This valuable service continues to help many in our community during what can often be a stressful time – tax season,” said Heidi Burnett, Director of Library and Cultural Services.
In 2019, the VITA program at Ethel M. Gordon Oakland Park Library brought $152,730 worth of critical dollars back into the pockets of local families. This translated into $39,487 of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the most crucial tax credit that working families can access at tax time. In 2021, volunteers assisted 200 clients virtually to submit 80 returns and collect $140,676 in refunds.
The free service is available now through April 15, 2023, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ethel M. Gordon Oakland Park Library at 1298 NE 37th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33334. To confirm availability and for additional information, do not hesitate to contact the library at 954-630-4370. Bilingual assistance is available.
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