Like many people here in Larimer County, Delma is a working single mom. With one kid still at home and working full-time at a local nonprofit, she doesn’t have extra money to spend on preparing her taxes. This was the first year that Delma used the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through Make Change NoCo.

“I was really excited to learn about VITA,” said Delma. “Before, it was overwhelming to try and understand everything about my taxes, but with VITA, I felt more confident that they were going to be filed properly.”

Make Change NoCo uses trained, IRS-certified volunteers to prepare taxes for free for families and individuals that make less than $60,000 a year. Delma relayed that they were very professional and did everything according to protocol, giving her confidence that her taxes would be done correctly and not be subject to audit.

“I think that as a single parent, VITA has made a financial impact on my life. As taxpayers, we all want to submit accurate returns. Unfortunately, in our economic times right now, we can’t afford the extra $300 to pay for someone to prepare our taxes for us.”

Delma estimates that VITA saved her $400-500 this year. VITA volunteers also ensured she received all qualifying tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which resulted in her owing less to the government than she might have without the credits.

At United Way, we’re committed to helping working families in Larimer County become financially stable and self-sufficient. We work with partners, like Make Change NoCo, to empower more people with the skills and resources to build a stronger foundation for their future.

To learn more or to find out where to go for free tax preparation, contact United Way 2-1-1 by phone at 970-407-7066 or online at www.uwaylc.org/get-help.