Bergen Volunteers: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program 2021

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is in full swing at Bergen Volunteers.

The Bergen Volunteers VITA program offers free basic tax return preparation services to qualified individuals, including:

• Individuals whose income levels are $57,000 or less

• Individuals with disabilities

• English-language learners

The program is designed by the IRS, independently managed by Bergen Volunteers as an IRS-certified partner, and supported by volunteers. Each year, Bergen Volunteers’s VITA volunteers undergo a rigorous training and confidentiality workshop. Volunteers are required to certify their knowledge of the tax laws. They also perform a quality review check prior to filing for every return that is prepared. 

Due to the current pandemic, Bergen Volunteers is utilizing a hybrid system with regulated in-person document drop-offs and scheduled virtual sessions.

“Bergen Volunteers is working diligently to deliver the VITA program in a socially-distant and responsible manner,” said Program Manager, Debbie Emery. “We reevaluated our approach and developed a program that would continue to serve individuals while maintaining everyone’s health and safety.”

Upcoming virtual tax preparation dates are:

• February 27

• March 6

• March 13

• Mach 20

• Mach 27

• April 10

To determine eligibility for services, potential tax clients should contact Debbie Emery at demery@bergenvolunteers.org or 201-489-9454 x202 to coordinate an appointment.  More information can be found on our website, www.bergenvolunteers.org/programs.