by Donna Taglianetti

Many families use a paid, commercial tax preparer to prepare their returns, but did you know you could get your tax return done for free? IRS certified preparers are available to help working families at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Centers around the state of Connecticut.

In Hartford, Connecticut, for example, the Hartford Asset Building Collaboration (HABC) has established fourteen free tax preparation sites staffed with certified tax preparation volunteers in an attempt to keep more money in the pockets of Hartford residents. 

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and related childcare and education credits are the most effective government programs available to help hard-working families get ahead economically and fulfill their dreams for their families’ future success. 

HABC’s certified tax preparers also provide filers with information on how to use their tax refunds and credits to build an asset base that can protect against unforeseen expenses or be used to pay for educational opportunities, buy a car, make a down payment on a house, or finance a new business opportunity. Similar services may be available at other VITA sites around the country. Qualified individuals who come to a free tax preparation site can expect a refund within a few days. Interested people in Connecticut can call InfoLine at 2-1-1 or in the US call 1-800-829-1040 for hours and locations of the center nearest them. To find out if you qualify for the EITC, visit www.irs.gov.

Key information about Hartford EITC campaign

• Last tax season, people who used the services of Hartford’s free tax centers received a total of $7.8 million in refunds and tax credits. This was a two–million-dollar increase over the previous year.
• Free tax centers served 3,345 filers in Hartford during the 2006 tax season. If these 3,345 who were served free of charge went to commercial tax preparation companies, they would have paid an estimated $363,936 in fees. This amount does not include fees for Refund Anticipation Loans that many commercial services sell to filers.
• More than $1.8 million in EITCs were claimed through Hartford’s free tax centers in 2006. 
• Despite the efforts of Hartford’s free tax centers, the IRS estimates that more than six million dollars was left unclaimed by eligible Hartford families last year.

Eligibility guidelines and maximum credit amounts

1. Families with one child who earn less than $32,001 in 2006 (or less than $34,001 for married workers) can get up to $2,747.

2. Families with two or more children who earn less than $36,348 in 2006 (or less than $38,348 for married workers) can get up to $4,536.

3. Workers without a qualifying child who earn less than $12,120 in 2006 (or less than $14,120 for married workers) can get up to $412.


* EITC funds circulate through the local economy creating a ripple effect many times the size of the original refund, strengthening neighborhoods, assisting small businesses, and spurring local economic development.

Donna Taglianetti is the executive director at Co-Opportunity in Hartford, Connecticut. She can be reached at donnat@co-opportunity.org or 860-236-3617.