Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Central Alabama residents saved $460K+ on tax preparations + you can too
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We’re officially in tax season, and I know everyone is counting down the days until April 15th.
But did you know that United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) provides FREE tax services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program? We spoke to VITA Director Judy Allen to get a better grasp on this free service. Keep reading for more information, and see how you can become a volunteer.
Get free help with your taxes with United Way of Central Alabama
Thanks to UWCA, it’s easy to get expert help when it comes time to submit your taxes.
The route you take depends on your household income level.
- For household incomes of $54,000 or less: VITA helps prepare your taxes for free! Make an appointment here.
- For household incomes of $84,000 or less: MyFreeTaxes helps you easily + accurately file both federal and state taxes on your own. Don’t worry—there’s a helpline open 9AM-7PM. Call 1.866.698.9435 to get started.
This is an opportunity to avoid paying your tax preparation fee and instead use that money for other goals you may have. Maybe it’s a car repair you’re saving up for, paying off debt or buying enough groceries for the month.
VITA is waiting to support you with this unique, free service.
“We’re very lucky that the community support for United Way makes it possible for us to offer this in a very robust and professional way.”
Judy Allen, Program Director of VITA, United Way of Central Alabama
Ready to pitch in? Become a volunteer
Thousands of individuals and families turn to UWCA each year seeking help filing their taxes, saving hundreds of dollars in the process.
In fact, UWCA helped 1,842 people prepare their taxes in 2024—saving a total of $460,500 in fees.
If you want to provide valuable assistance to your community, this is a great opportunity! Volunteers can help through a variety of roles, including:
- Tax preparers
- Greeters
- Student interns
“We fill almost every appointment. So the more volunteers we have, the more appointments we can offer. There are definitely people still out there who would like to use the service.”
Judy Allen, Program Director of VITA, United Way of Central Alabama
Serving on VITA is instantly rewarding because for every return that you prepare, you’re saving neighbors a minimum of $250 in fees.
You don’t even need professional experience in accounting or finance to help.
But you do need to be trained (and that’s free, too!) UWCA provides training every year (since the tax codes are typically revised annually); upon completion, volunteers are IRS-certified tax preparers.
A word from the program director: Meet Judy Allen
Right after graduating from Birmingham-Southern College, Judy Allen worked for UWCA as a Loaned Executive. After working in banking for a few years, Judy joined UWCA full-time as part of the Financial Stability Program.
Eventually, UWCA formed its Volunteer Tax Program with the goal of assisting locals in saving for their goals.
Once VITA was formed, Judy diligently stepped into the director role, where she recruits and trains volunteers.
“It’s really neat to see the range of ages and backgrounds of the volunteers. I think Birmingham is a vibrant community with a lot of people who’ve had a lot of different, interesting experiences.
We all want to help with the practical task of getting taxes done, but most people also find it enjoyable to come as a volunteer.”
Judy Allen, Program Director of VITA, United Way of Central Alabama
Whether you’re looking for tax prep help or ready to put your skills to work volunteering, UWCA is here to make the process less taxing.
Keep up with United Way of Central Alabama and how they continue to support Birmingham + beyond.
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