UNITED WAY NEWS RELEASE — United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) has been awarded $64,780 in matching funds by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help provide income-eligible individuals and families this upcoming tax season with free tax preparation through its “Earn It, Keep It, Save It” partnership. With the funds, UWNNS and its partners will offer free tax preparation to households earning less than $51,000 in 2013 at more than 30 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across northern Nevada.
The United Way-led “Earn It, Keep It, Save It” partnership has provided free tax preparation services for the past five years, although this is the first time the organization has received significant funding from the IRS. Dollars coming back into northern Nevada communities have steadily grown, with total tax refunds totaling over $4.7 million last year. This new funding by the IRS will enable the program to expand into new areas, and help more people access refunds for which they may qualify.
The “Earn It, Keep It, Save It” partnership currently has VITA sites throughout United Way’s region, including Washoe, Lyon, Douglas, Carson City, Elko, Humboldt, Churchill, and Mineral counties in Nevada and El Dorado County in California. With this additional funding, plans call for expansion to eastern areas of Elko County, Pershing County and more sites within established areas.
VITA tax preparation services are provided by IRS-certified volunteers.
The foundation that nurtures and supports healthy lives is made up of three, interconnected ‘building blocks’ – education, financial stability and health. United Way is ideally suited to create positive, lasting change by addressing all three areas as one – through proper expertise, capacity and relationships. Join us! Bring your passion, knowledge and resources to get things done all across our community. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when a neighborhood turns around and when workers have solid jobs. For more information, call 775-322-8668 or visit www.uwnns.org.
