As Benjamin Franklin once famously remarked “the only things certain in life are death and taxes.” While the idea of paying taxes can be intimidating, the Bucks County Community College network has a built-in tool to aid the members of our community who most need it.
This tool, also known as VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), is a free program that seeks to serve those who make $67,000 or less, are disabled, limited in English, and seniors. Additionally, the value of the entire home must not exceed $67,000 jointly to qualify.
Operating in Bristol until the end of tax season, VITA volunteers help eligible candidates receive maximum returns on their taxes, whether the taxes are Federal, State, or Local.
In 2024, the Bucks County Opportunity Council stated on the VITA section of their website that 1,433 Tax Returns were prepared resulting in a total of $2.2 Million dollars in Tax Services, (refunds, saved filing fees, credits, property tax and rent rebates) being provided.
Aside from the obvious benefits for those who utilize VITA to file taxes, there also exists an opportunity for Bucks students. This program suits students majoring in accounting, finance, economics, and/or social studies as it offers hands-on experience that brings immediate change for clients.
This experience is helpful for building resumes, brushing up on people and problem-solving skills, and building compassion and empathy for different social or financial situations.
Volunteering with VITA offers many the opportunity to demystify taxes as an unconquerable obstacle to be feared. There are countless sources of VITA training online to help you understand the tax preparer program and IRS requirements for certain tax breaks.
Those interested in getting their taxes done with VITA, can check out https://bcoc.org/vita-volunteer-income-tax-assistance/. To schedule an appointment on the Epstein campus, call 215-436-8467.
Epstein Campus hours are: Monday and Wednesday 4:15 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Appointments must be made online, no walk-ins. Available Feb 1- April 14 2025.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer, visit https://bcoc.org/volunteer-opportunities/ or email [email protected] for more information. Note that those who have not lived in PA for more than 10 years will need FBI fingerprint clearance.