The United Way of South Central Tennessee is inviting Coffee County residents to attend an informational event about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) later this week.

The informational event is set to take place on Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Coffee Co. Manchester Library, located at 1005 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The VITA program is a service provided by United Way as part of its financial stability initiative, and offers free tax help to households that earned $80,000 or less in the previous year. This program connects community members with eligible credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), helping them manage essential needs like transportation, housing, and food. VITA volunteers are trained to assist with tax returns and ensure accuracy, and the program has served thousands of clients over the years. For more information, you can visit their website or contact them directly.

During the 2024 tax season, we completed the following:

•     2,385 returns filed

•     $2,431,2490 in tax refunds

•     $791,680 in saved tax prep fees

•     55 volunteers gave 2,987 hours of their time

•     Over the last seven years, the United Way VITA program has served approximately 11,000 clients for nearly $14,000,000 in refunds to our community.

The Earned Income Tax Credit

IRS is warning taxpayers that Refunds may be smaller in 2025. Many of the tax benefits still exist, but under current tax law, they have reverted to their smaller, pre-pandemic levels.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps working families in our community keep more of their hard-earned income and pay for things like childcare, groceries, and car repairs to get to work. Twenty percent of eligible families are leaving 20% of their tax refund on the table – money that can make a big difference in paying bills and putting food on the table. Households earning $80,000 or less can file their taxes for free at a VITA site during tax season or utilize MyFreeTaxes.com.

Get Involved

Volunteers are needed; FREE Training – no experience required! Choose the day(s), hours, and location for the tax season team you’ll be working with!

Donate four or 40 hours as a greeter/intake coordinator, tax preparer, translator, digital navigator, or office support! Volunteer roles are available from November 2025 – May 2026.

Other ways to be involved:

•     Help recruit new volunteers to volunteer with YOU!

•     Spread the word about VITA – VITA is a FREE service with IRS Certified volunteers – Word of mouth is the most trusted way for neighbors/friends/family.

•     Donate to the VITA program to show your support!

Learn more about volunteering for VITA here. Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form or contact Shannon Bauer at shannon.bauer@yourlocaluw.org or 615-893-7303 ext 1017 for more information.