United Way Offers Last Minute Tax Preparation Help

The United Way is partnering with a number of locations and volunteers in an effort to help people become financially stable.

One of those ways is to offer free tax preparation assistance.

A program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, is in full swing at three locations in Santa Barbara and another in Carpinteria.

Volunteers trained by the Internal Revenue Service and AARP have been helping people who earn less than $60,000 a year.

If earnings are too complicated, they will turn people away.

Participants just need to bring in their last year’s tax return and an ID.

Melinda Hoddge, United Way’s community impact officer, said there are workshops to help people learn about their finances and to spend their returns wisely.

For a link to locations log onto www.unitedwaysb.org/vita or call 805-899-2313