Volunteer tax program impact estimated at $2.9M

The University of Missouri Extension last week recognized community leaders and volunteers for their work with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which is estimated to have had an economic impact in Christian, Stone and Taney counties of $2.9 million.

VITA, a program offered by the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax assistance for low- and moderate-income families, according to a news release.

This year, VITA volunteers assisted more than 1,341 families at six locations:

• College of the Ozarks;
• the Taney County Ozarks Area Community Action Corp. office;
• the Taney County Extension office;
• the Stone County OACAC Office;
• the Stone County Annex in Galena; and
• the Christian County Extension office.

Those families aided by VITA volunteers in the three counties received $867,067 in federal income tax refunds, and saved $161,304 in tax preparation fees, according to the release.