Tax Preparation Program: CAF’s VITA Program delivers successful free tax preparation programs for low-income communities in the state of Maryland, Massachusetts and Kansas. In addition to providing free tax preparation assistance, CAF also helps eligible families access the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the child tax credit (CTC) and information.

CAF connects families with asset building programs available in the community while providing money management workshops for families that receive the tax preparation services. Incorporating financial Literacy is very important in this program because the lump sum returns to low-income working families provide a tremendous potential asset, particularly if the refund can be directly deposited into a matched savings program or IDAs. Such program ensure not only that those eligible receive their full potential refund, but that organizations assisting people with their tax returns are ideally positioned to encourage them to channel at least a part of their refund into a savings account.

CAF’s first VITA site, reached over 200 families during the 2009 tax season on its pilot program in Massachusetts and recruited over 18 volunteers that were trained as Volunteer Tax preparers. Last year CAF partnered with Lawrence community works as well as with the Real Economic Impact to provide free tax preparation assistance to people with disability. Given the success of previous year, CAF envisions the expansion of the program to other states where CAF has a presence. This expansion will allow CAF to assist a greater number of low-income tax payers and expand our collaboration with other partners.

CAF’s free tax preparation program will be done in partnership with the Latino faith-based institutions to reach out and serve a greater number of families. This innovated approach will allow CAF to serve over 2000 low-income tax payers in the states of Maryland, Massachusetts and Kansas and Missouri. CAF will recruit over 50 volunteers to accomplish this goal. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please download the information here. (Get flyer link here)