The story that sticks out for VITA volunteer Cynthia Mackin this year happened a couple of weeks ago, when a brother and sister in their early 20s came in for an appointment, totally flummoxed about their taxes.
Neither made much money, and it didn’t look like a big IRS refund was in their future either. The sister was a self-employed caregiver with few expenses to claim. The brother was facing a major penalty for not having health insurance.
As Cynthia (pictured left) looked through their filings and talked to the siblings, however, she discovered the sister drove about 40 miles a day, a deductible expense, and the brother was eligible for a waiver from the healthcare mandate because he didn’t make enough money. By the time she and the VITA volunteer team were done, both brother and sister were looking at refunds of about $700.
“I remember they were just giddy,” said Cynthia. “The sister actually squealed she was so excited. It’s one of the reasons I keep volunteering. The people we help are so grateful. Without a doubt, it’s very rewarding.”
Cynthia is one of the dozens of volunteers dedicating their time this year to the United Way of Northern Arizona’s free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. They provide IRS-certified assistance to thousands of families in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties.
The program helps these residents keep the money they have worked so hard to earn and thereby keep it here in our local communities. Over the past decade, VITA has experienced tremendous growth in Northern Arizona. In 2009, tax refunds came in at just under $2 million, whereas the refunds last year totaled $4.5 million.
Cynthia, who is retired and was a CPA, had helped family and friends with their tax returns for years.
“I like doing returns,” she said, laughing. “I know that’s weird, most people don’t, but I do.”
Five years ago, she saw that UWNA was looking for VITA volunteers and signed up. Like all VITA volunteers, Cynthia undergoes IRS re-certification through online courses and tests. It’s one of the requirements of the program to help ensure the high quality of the returns being produced under VITA.
During the course of the tax season, she’ll create about 100 tax returns and review another 100 returns created by other volunteers. It’s part of a two step process to ensure that all returns are accurate and that no opportunities to lower a client’s tax burden have been missed.
“Most of the time you don’t find anything, maybe a transposed number,” she said. “But it’s great to have a second set of eyes on it.”
The VITA program is continuing to help those needing tax assistance, and in some communities, the program is continuing right until Tax Day on April 15. Call the number for your community (listed below) to schedule an appointment.
