The Bristol Press

February 12, 2014

BRISTOL — Who says you can’t get something for nothing? The United Way of West Central Connecticut this year is again offering free tax preparation for residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth and Terryville throughout the tax season.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides low-income workers and families with free tax preparation and filing. The program will be offered at the United Way’s office at 200 Main St., Bristol. All of its volunteers are IRS-certified. If your household income is less than $51,000 a year, you qualify to have your taxes done free.

The program is intended to help lower-income families by helping them claim tax credits for which they qualify.

Over the last four tax seasons, United Way has helped local residents get $1,113,921 in state and federal tax refunds. It has also saved its clients more than $133,000 in tax preparation fees.

Additionally, 100 percent of clients who used the program last year said they were satisfied with the services they received, based on the results of an exit survey conducted by United Way.

Another goal of the program is to promote the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the largest antipoverty programs in the country. The credit provides a financial boost for working people in a recovering economy. This year, for the second time, there is also a Connecticut tax credit program. Last year, more than 211,000 working families in Connecticut benefited from the credit.

To qualify for the federal and state credits, one’s earned income and adjusted gross income must be less than:

∎ $46,227 ($51,567 married filing jointly), with three or more qualifying children.

∎ $43,038 ($48,378 married filing jointly), with two or more qualifying children.

∎ $37,870 ($43,210 married filing jointly), with one qualifying child.

∎ $14,340 ($19,680 married filing jointly), with no qualifying children.

Appointments are required. To make an appointment at the Bristol site, call (860) 612-3983 as soon as you receive all your tax forms for 2013.

For more information, call the United Way of West Central Connecticut at (860) 582-9559 or visit www.uwwestcentralct.org.