Local volunteer assists client at the United Way tax preparation site. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) and the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) partner up to provide helpful services & resources to residents throughout Santa Barbara County for tax season. Tax season is here and low to moderate income Santa Barbara County residents are invited to take advantage of putting more money back in their pockets with the help of UWSBC’s and HACSB’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
HACSB started the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for Housing Authority clients twenty years ago in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Approximately thirteen years ago, HACSB partnered with UWSBC and formed the Financial Empowerment Partnership. Since UWSBC took over the management of the program, the two organizations have worked together to broaden its impact, serving more residents countywide. Since inception, the program has grown to seven VITA sites and ten community partners: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, United Way Santa Barbara County, AARP, UC Santa Barbara, Immigrant Hope, People Helping People, Carpinteria Children’s Project, Santa Barbara Public Library, County of Santa Barbara and John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY).
From February 6th to April 18th, volunteers at VITA sites throughout the community will provide free tax filing services to local residents making $67,000 or less annually. IRS-certified volunteers will provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Last year, volunteers filed 2,784 tax returns and gave back over $2,678,237 in federal refunds to local community members.
This year, the VITA program is focused on increasing community awareness of available tax credits to qualifying households. In Santa Barbara County, only 70% of qualifying households take advantage of credits like the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), an annual tax credit of up to $3,417 for individuals making below $30,000 annually. Program goals for 2023 include closing that gap and securing those funds through tax refunds for households and families who qualify.
VITA Locations & Hours (February 6 to April 18 2023)
Immigrant Hope
935 San Andres Street
Mondays & Wednesdays | 12PM – 4:30PM
Eastside Library
1102 E. Montecito Street
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3PM – 7PM
Goleta Valley Community Center
5679 Hollister Ave.
Fridays | 9AM – 12PM, 1PM – 4 PM (AARP)
UC Santa Barbara
Psychology East, Room 1805 Fridays | 1:30PM – 4:30PM
Phelps Hall, Room 1513 Saturdays | 12:30PM – 3:30PM
Carpinteria Children’s Project
5201 8th Street
Day of Operation: Saturday, February 25 | 9AM – 2PM
People Helping People
545 Alisal Road #102 Solvang, CA
Days of Operation: Saturday, March 4 | 9AM – 2PM
United Way of Santa Barbara County
320 E. Gutierrez St.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays | 1:00PM – 4:00PM (AARP)
Saturdays | 9AM – 1PM
About United Way of Santa Barbara County
Since 1923, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has been a key leader in local efforts to empower children, families, and communities through its own unique collaborative programs and initiatives, partnership convening efforts, volunteer development, and funding. UWSBC’s mission is to enrich the lives of children and families and build resilient communities by leading local programs and partnerships that improve school readiness and academic achievement, financial empowerment, and crisis response and recovery. To learn more, please visit unitedwaysb.org.
About Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is a local public agency created for the purpose of providing safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources. Since 1969, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has developed and/or secured over 4,000 units of affordable rental housing for Santa Barbara through a variety of federal, state, local and private funding sources. For more information, please visit hacsb.org.
***
United Way y La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Santa Bárbara se asocian para el programa VITA
SANTA BARBARA – – United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) y Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) se asocian para brindar servicios y recursos útiles a los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara durante la temporada de impuestos. La temporada de impuestos ha empezado y los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara de ingresos bajos a moderados están invitados a aprovechar y poner más dinero en sus bolsillos con la ayuda del programa Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
HACSB inició el programa de VITA para clientes de la Autoridad de Vivienda hace veinte años en asociación con Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Hace aproximadamente trece años, HACSB se asoció con UWSBC y formaron el Financial Empowerment Partnership. Desde que UWSBC se hizo cargo de la administración del programa, las dos organizaciones han trabajado juntas para ampliar su impacto, sirviendo a más residentes en todo el condado. El programa ha crecido a siete sitios VITA y diez socios comunitarios: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, United Way Santa Barbara County, AARP, UC Santa Barbara, Immigrant Hope, People Helping People, Carpinteria Children’s Project, Santa Barbara Public Library, County of Santa Barbara and John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY).
Del 6 de febrero al 18 de abril, los voluntarios en los sitios de VITA brindarán servicios gratuitos de declaración de impuestos a los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara con ingresos de $67,000 o menos al año. Voluntarios certificados por el IRS ofrecerán preparación gratuita de declaraciones de impuestos básicos a personas calificadas. El año pasado, los voluntarios presentaron 2,784 declaraciones de impuestos y devolvieron más de $2,678,237 en reembolsos federales a miembros de la comunidad local.
Este año, el programa VITA se enfoca en aumentar la conciencia de la comunidad sobre los créditos fiscales disponibles para los hogares que califican. En el condado de Santa Bárbara, solo 70% de los hogares que califican aprovechan créditos como el California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), un crédito fiscal anual de hasta $3,417 para individuos con ingresos menos de $30,000 al año. Los objetivos del programa para 2023 incluyen cerrar la brecha y asegurar esos fondos, a través de reembolsos de impuestos, para hogares y familias que califiquen.
Ubicaciones y Horarios (6 de febrero al 18 de abril 2023)
Immigrant Hope
935 San Andres Street
Lunes y Miércoles | 12PM – 4:30PM
Eastside Library
1102 E. Montecito Street
Martes y Jueves | 3PM – 7PM
Goleta Valley Community Center
5679 Hollister Ave.
Viernes | 9AM – 12PM, 1PM – 4 PM (AARP)
UC Santa Barbara
Psychology East, Room 1805 Viernes | 1:30PM – 4:30PM
Phelps Hall, Room 1513 Sábado | 12:30PM – 3:30PM
Carpinteria Children’s Project
5201 8th Street
Días de operación Sábado, February 25 | 9AM – 2PM
People Helping People
545 Alisal Road #102 Solvang, CA
Días de operación: Sábado, March 4 | 9AM – 2PM
United Way of Santa Barbara County
320 E. Gutierrez St.
Martes & Miércoles | 1:00PM – 4:00PM (AARP)
Sabado | 9AM – 1PM