The Virginia Community Action Partnership believes the free tax preparation activity during the 2011 filing season (January 15 through April 15) is due to the success of the EITC grant program and expansion of coalitions working with free tax preparation throughout the Commonwealth.

• Almost $31 million in federal refunds
* Over 21,000 federal returns filed

• Almost $10.5 million in EITC refunds
* 7,000 taxpayers claiming EITC
* $4.2 million saved in tax preparation fees

• Over $3.6 million in state refunds
* Over 18,000 state returns filed

Compared to the 2009 tax season, this represents:

• 19% increase in the amount of federal refunds

• 8.5% increase in the number of EITC returns prepared

The modest state-funded $185,725 EITC Grant program (average grant $6,600) resulted in 1,027 volunteers working with 29 coalitions to provide free tax preparation and financial education services at over 100 sites throughout Virginia. The Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Service estimates the value of volunteer time to be $22.03 per hour. This means an $889,800 value to the program and communities where these volunteers live and work.

The Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP) EITC Initiative supports community groups and coalitions throughout Virginia that provide free tax preparation services and promote financial literacy, savings and asset building to low income working individuals and families. The Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) gives the program an identity that can be used by the coalitions to engage community partners in their work. State wide partners in the Virginia CASH Campaign include the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the State Information Technology Consortium (SITC). Collectively the mission is to raise awareness of the EITC, especially among eligible recipients, and to provide free tax preparation services by certified volunteers. We encourage financial literacy and education, savings and asset building programs to enable clients to work toward self-sufficiency.