Money in Your Pocket
Money in Your Pocket Tax Preparation Program
The Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) campaign is a community collaboration of organizations led by United Way of the Capital Region that is committed to the economic stability of local families. The program aims to increase use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
Volunteers prepare computerized, electronic returns through the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Tax Income Assistance (VITA) program, which is designed to provide low- to moderate-income working families with help completing federal and state returns, and obtaining credits for which they are eligible.
The Money in Your Pocket program is funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and PNC Bank.
For tax year 2019, volunteers filed 3,698 tax returns, resulting in more than $3 million returned to local families.
FREE Tax Prep Services Through Touch-Free Taxes Program
Touch-Free Taxes will be available beginning January 25, 2021.
This year Money in Your Pocket will offer free virtual tax preparation services through the Touch-Free Taxes program. Low- to moderate-income individuals and families who made $57,000 or less in 2020 are eligible. Touch-Free Taxes can be done from the comfort of your home and connects you to a trained volunteer to complete your taxes at no cost!
Starting on January 25, you can simply go to our secure site and answer a few questions. You will need to upload photos of the same tax information and forms as you would for any tax service. This can be done by scanning them or taking a photo with your smart phone. You will set up a time for a telephone interview with a certified volunteer tax preparer to review your forms. A local volunteer preparer will complete your state and local returns. Once that step is complete, you will have a second phone call to review the results before the forms are sent to you electronically to sign. Our United Way will electronically file your federal and state returns. Your local return will be sent to you to mail to your local tax office.
If you do not have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer to scan your tax documents, we will offer scanning assistance at several locations by appointment only. A few things to keep in mind:
- Appointments will begin the week of January 25, 2021.
- You will be required to wear a mask at all times and have your temperature checked prior to entering the building.
- If you are feeling ill, have a temperature or have traveled outside the state in the previous two weeks, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.
- We will be following all recommended health and safety guidelines for your safety and the safety of our volunteers. This includes wearing masks, observing limits on occupancy and closing the scanning sites if there is another general shutdown.
For more information, click on the button below to view or download the Touch-Free Taxes flyer.
Questions?
E-mail [email protected] or call 717.724.4077.
