During the 2023 tax season, United Way of Horry County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program completed 1,058 tax returns, helping residents claim $1,551,600 in state and federal tax refunds. In addition, this year, the program helped residents save an estimated $211,600 on the cost of commercial tax preparation.
United Way of Horry County’s VITA program provides free tax preparation services to households with an income of less than $60,000. And because commercial tax preparation can be expensive, costing an average of more than $200 per return, the free VITA service ensures that residents keep their whole refund. Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers, who can help clients take advantage of programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit. During the 2023 tax season, 29 volunteers provided 2,397 hours of service through VITA.
“The average tax refund for a VITA client is more than the fair market monthly cost of rent in our community,” said Blakely Roof, president and CEO of United Way of Horry County. “That money can give residents a head start on becoming self-sufficient. We’re grateful for our VITA volunteers for providing this valuable service to our community.”
Learn more about the VITA program here.