Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity Free tax Assistance
PITTSFIELD, Mass. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) once again will provide free income tax prep to households earning $64K or less, persons with disabilities, and the elderly through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
All VITA volunteers receive extensive training and are IRS-certified.
"Most of our volunteers return year after year to help with this essential program for our underserved
communities in Berkshire County," said Carolyn Valli, CBHFH CEO. "Over 85 percent of our clients are return clients that have come to us for the past 3 to 8 years. And most of that remaining 15% was from new clients we were able to serve in South County."
Last tax season, CBHFH reported that their 17 VITA volunteers processed 831 returns, totaling $963,832 in federal and state tax refunds to local households.
"We've only been open a week this season, and it has been very busy already," said Lynne Newton, CBHFH Community Navigator and current VITA program coordinator. "But thanks to our wonderful volunteers, we are prepared and ready to help in any way our clients need."
Another plus is that, thanks to Habitat’s bilingual Community Navigators, CBHFH can offer Spanish and French translators to help explain the sometimes complicated forms and IRS requirements.
Habitat's office at 314 Columbus Avenue in Pittsfield has multilingual IRS forms, a copier, and a drop-off box with hours running Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, Friday mornings from 8:30 am to noon, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
For South County, Habitat will offer service at the Mason Library at 231 Main St in Great Barrington, and VITA hours run from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning on February 6. For more information or to make an appointment at either location, residents can call 413.442.3184. VITA Volunteers are standing by to assist.
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