(Submitted)
Lifeline, Inc. has concluded its 2023 tax season with “its best results ever,” according to the agency’s administration.
Final statistics for the VITA Program for the season show that 345 residents had taxes prepared at a Lifeline VITA tax clinic — the most ever served in a single season.
Additionally, of those 345 residents, 77 received the Earned Income Tax Credit. Total returns generated at Lifeline’s VITA clinics totaled $300,795.
“We’re really excited about the number of people we served and at a time when we know so many families have struggled financially due to rising costs of food, gas, and housing,” said Lifeline Executive Director Carrie Dotson. “And we have to thank our partners at United Way of Lake County — they continued to provide funding for our VITA Program so that we could meet the increased demand this season.”
United Way of Lake County President and CEO Dione DeMitro said the nonprofit is grateful to partner with Lifeline.
“Far too many people in our community are living paycheck to paycheck, and this program makes sure our most vulnerable friends and neighbors are able to maximize their returns,” she said.
The Earned Income Tax Credit, originally approved by Congress in 1975, is a federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working families and individuals.
Eligibility factors include how much is earned and how many children a taxpayer has. Single adults and couples without children can also qualify for the credit, although families with children receive larger credits, according to program guidelines.
Lifeline uses volunteers trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service who additionally assist elderly and disabled people.
Throughout the 2023 tax season, volunteers donated 546 hours to VITA, Dotson said.
Coordinator Heather Martucci agreed that the program was a huge success.
“We have been so fortunate to have had such an incredible tax season,” she said. “My volunteers and I truly enjoyed helping so many families and everyone always showed so much gratitude and appreciation.
“Seeing taxpayers walk out the door of our clinics feeling less overwhelmed makes the whole experience worthwhile,” Martucci added. “We were also very happy that all of our studies of tax laws and taking the time to take the certification exams did not go to waste.”
Dotson emphasized that partner sites, like the Perry Senior Center and the Wickliffe Family Resource Center, were instrumental in delivering a positive outcome.
“We truly appreciate everyone who devotes time and space — they really help us to reach every corner of Lake and Geauga counties,” she said. “We also appreciate the partnership of the IRS and the backing of all those involved in operating the tax clinics.
Lifeline has hosted VITA clinics since 2010 and has prepared tax filings for 2,760 residents.
In that span, volunteers have given 5,955 hours and $3,289,774 in refunds has been generated for residents.
“Besides being able to provide this assistance, this year was also significant because we surpassed $3 million in total returns,” Dotson said. “For a program that is completely volunteer-driven, that is an amazing amount of money to have brought back into the community.”
Lifeline’s tax clinics are additionally supported through the federal Community Services Block Grant.
Lifeline will host VITA clinics beginning again in January. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact Heather Martucci at 440-354-2148 or heatherm@lclifeline.org.