United Way of Greater Newark, in partnership with the Newark Asset Building Coalition, has announced the launch of the Newark Free Tax Prep initiative to provide free online and drop-off tax preparation services for low- and moderate-income New Jersey residents.
The IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program runs through Saturday, April 15, and includes an online GetYourRefund tax-filing portal as well as contactless drop-off locations at seven sites across Newark and East Orange. The free-tax program helps eligible residents claim tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
“The VITA program is an important part of our mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty,” United Way of Greater Newark President & CEO Catherine Wilson said. “We strive to help residents reach financial stability. VITA helps the residents that we serve to claim credits that they may not have known about, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is one of our country’s most powerful mechanisms for keeping millions of individuals and families out of poverty. This program is a vital piece in providing families with much-needed income.”
The program launched on Tuesday, Jan. 24 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the CareWell Medical Center in East Orange. The site will be the only location in East Orange and operates in partnership with The City of East Orange, United Way of Greater Newark, and The CareWell Health Medical Center.
“We couldn’t have better partners,” East Orange Mayor Ted Green said. “This service gives residents of East Orange the opportunity to save money. Some people can’t afford an accountant and this service allows them to save money to help their families address a different need. This tax service at CareWell Health Medical Center allows us to continue to help the people of East Orange.”
This Newark Asset Building Coalition and Newark Free Tax Prep initiative offer free assistance to people with $75,000 or less taxable income on their tax return. The program is staffed by volunteers, who undergo at least 20 hours of training and must pass an exam specified by the IRS before they are allowed to prepare and submit a return. Staff and volunteers are held to the highest standards of confidentiality, quality, and customer service. VITA services are offered in English and Spanish.
“This program is here to service even more of our residents this year,” LaDonna Johns, Esq., Manager of the East Orange Mayor’s Office of Employment & Training said. “This partnership has been ongoing for eight years. This is also an excellent learning opportunity for our volunteers, especially Seton Hall University students who volunteer with us.”
In 2021, the VITA program filed 5,359 tax returns and returned a total of $11.5 million directly back to the community. This number included $3.8 million from the Earned Income Tax Credit and $2.6 million from the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.
“The numbers from the VITA program are impressive,” Dr. Anuj Mehta, Chief Medical Officer of CareWell Health added. “The value of this program is not just the fees that are saved but also that many people don’t know the credits that belong to them. When people save in the lower income group, that money goes back into the community.”
To learn more about UWGN’s online tax-filing services, see more information here (English) or here(Spanish) or about the drop-off process, see here (English) or here (Spanish).
For hours of operation for each location and additional information visit: https://www.nabcnj.org/newark-free-tax-prep/. To file taxes through GetYourRefund, visit getyourrefund.org/UWGN.
