Free Tax Assistance For Newark Families Returns For 4th Year

NEWARK, NJ — 2020 was a challenging financial year for many families in Newark due to the coronavirus pandemic. And as they sit down to file this year’s taxes, it will make things especially tricky, the United Way of Greater Newark (UWGN) says.

This year, the Newark Asset Building Coalition (NABC), a coalition that UWGN chairs, is reaching out to low and moderate-income families and individuals in Newark who need some help with their federal taxes.

Through the online platform, GetYourRefund, as well as five in-person drop-off locations around greater Newark, the UWGN and NABC will offer contactless Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), an IRS-sponsored program that provides free certified tax preparation assistance, for New Jersey residents from Feb. 1 to April 15.

• For more information about the NABC services and drop-off locations, visit: http://www.nabcnj.org/newark-free-tax-prep/.
• To file your taxes through GetYourRefund, visit: www.getyourrefund.org/UWGN.
• If you’d like to learn more about UWGN’s tax-filing services, see more information here (English) or here (Spanish) or about the drop-off process, see here (English) or here (Spanish).

According to a news release from the UWGN:

“The NABC is a coalition focused on promoting financial independence and stability to local residents and will provide these VITA services at community sites across Newark for the fourth year in a row. The Newark Free Tax Prep initiative will provide tax-filers with access to IRS-certified VITA tax professionals, ensuring the same quality review process so filers can receive maximum returns this tax season. UWGN will also offer phone consultations to all online GetYourRefund filers during the intake process to provide confidential one-on-one support. Code for America launched GetYourRefund as an innovative pilot program and selected UWGN as one of its national partners to continue offering free tax-filing services and helping families access tax credits and Economic Impact Payments during the pandemic.”

Program and marketing support has been made possible by Citi and The Prudential Foundation.

The nonprofit said last year’s effort paid off for their clients:

“In the 2019 tax year, VITA tax clients served by the NABC received tax returns of over $12 million, of which over $4.5 million was through the Earned Income Tax Credit. Individuals who are interested in using these services can complete and securely upload their tax documents. Then, applicants will be connected with a VITA team member who will remotely prepare, review, and file tax returns with the taxpayers’ consent. Those who prefer contactless services offered by local community organizations can drop off their tax documents to several sites around Greater Newark.”

“Last year was an especially challenging financial year for many families, which will make filing taxes this year particularly tricky,” UWGN President and CEO Catherine Wilson said.

“For that reason, we are excited to continue offering our vital tax-filing services for free, both in-person and digitally,” Wilson continued. “We know tax-filing provides residents with critical tax credits and are proud to be able to offer these services to our community members once again.”

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact eric.kiefer@patch.com

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