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The Program:
Through a collaborative known as Berks $ In Your Pocket Coalition, United Way and partners offer free tax preparation to low-to moderate income workers so they can receive their full refund at tax time, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Program eligibility requirements include: household yearly income of $60,000 or below, cannot have business expenses above $5,000, cannot have rental or farm income, cannot be a dual status or non-resident alien.
This year, United Way is training and mobilizing more than 50 volunteers to help eligible households file their income taxes for free. Volunteers use a user-friendly system called The Benefit Bank to electronically file federal and state taxes. United Way is pleased to partner with the following sites using this system. Individuals are asked to call the individual site to make an appointment. Sites are open beginning February 1. Appointments are required; walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Additional sites are hosted by Berks Encore and BCAP and are accepting appointments. These sites may have different eligibility requirements based on a different software system utilized; call for details.
- Boyertown Area Multi Service 610.367.6957
- Catholic Charities 610.376.7144
- Centro Hispano 610.376.3748
- Muhlenberg Community Library 610.929.0589
- West Lawn/Wyomissing Library 610.678.4888
- Womelsdorf Library 610.589.1424
The Impact
In 2011, these efforts helped close to 3,800 eligible households, with more than $3 million refunded. These efforts help local families make ends meet, boost our local economy and improve economic independence.
One family's experience: A woman came to one of the tax sites last year for the first time. She has always done her family taxes on her own, but thought she would come to one of the Benefit Bank sites last year. From visiting the site, she learned she and her husband were eligible for the Making Work Pay Credit, which she had never heard of before, bringing in an extra $800 into their pockets in tax refunds. Also, she learned her husband's required uniforms for work were also tax deductible, and she was able to claim those as well, bringing a few more extra dollars back into their pockets. As a family with two children, she and her husband were pleased to learn of the increased refund! | 
