Danbury VITA

Description

Danbury-VITA has been an independent VITA site since 2010. We have been in our current location since November of 2010. Our original volunteers have been with the VITA program since 2007. We are located diagonally across from City Hall in center city on the bus routes, as well as near the local food pantry, homeless shelters and soup kitchen. We have a long-term lease for a suite 3 handicapped-accessible offices and a waiting room.

The primary focus of Danbury-VITA is low income taxpayers, particularly families eligible for EITC, and the secondary focus is persons with disabilities. We provide tax assistance in 6 different languages so we try to schedule clients who have limited English proficiency with tax preparers who are fluent in their native tongue. Although we do not target unemployed taxpayers, a lot of our clients are unemployed or under-employed. Unlike other professional tax services, the volunteers at Danbury-VITA take the time to explain the tax return and answer all questions before the tax return is printed and e-filed. We strongly encourage all clients to have refunds direct-deposited. Unless they are no longer eligible for service, our clients return year-after-year.

Danbury-VITA strictly adheres to the 10 Quality Site Requirements established by the IRS. The VITA Coordinator verifies that the 13615 Volunteer Standards of Conduct form is signed and filed in the Volunteer Binder before anyone has any contact with clients. Volunteers’ identities are verified with photo identification to prevent fraud. All volunteers have completed training consistent to their level of service to clients so that the scope of the return fits the certification level of the volunteer.