Santa Maria Sun / News

Viva la VITA

BY HENRY HOUSTON

VITA has an offer for seniors who have a family income of less than $49,000: The group will prepare your taxes for free. The tax-preparation service will be offered in both English and Spanish. Call 211 to make an appointment for service, which will available through April 3.

There are four VITA sites: one in Santa Maria and one in Lompoc, both of which will be open every Saturday through April 3; and another in Cuyama, with doors open on Feb. 7, 18, and 25; and, lastly, in Solvang on Feb. 7 and 28 and March 7.

“Our goal is to create awareness and to assist individuals and families in receiving the tax credits they have earned,” Eddie Taylor, CEO of Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, said in a press release. “Many people do not file and are not aware that they are entitled to receive an Earned Tax Credit or Child/Dependent Credit, which can mean a cash refund of up to $5,600.”

VITA was created to take the place of the AARP’s similar program, which shut down. VITA is an organization run by volunteers who’ve attended training and received certification, and the program collaborates with none other than the IRS—and Santa Maria and Lompoc, Cal Poly, Allan Hancock College, and more financial institutions and nonprofit agencies.

For more information, call Sandy Soria of the United Way office at 922-0329.

Intern Henry Houston compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.