Catholic Charities Community Services has completed 609 free tax returns totaling more $1,071,448 in federal and state refunds, including $450,123 in earned income tax credit for Central and Northern Arizona residents. The agency provides free tax preparation for low- to moderate-income families and individuals to assure that those need receive their maximum return, including the federal earned income tax credit.

“We’ve seen other companies offer to do the easy form for free, but the earned income and other tax credits require additional forms,” said Margo Brown, Paths of HOPE program coordinator for Catholic Charities. “We offer free tax preparation regardless of how many forms are needed to make sure these hard-working families receive the maximum return for which they qualify.”

The maximum earned income tax credit is $5,751. Families with children and household incomes under $49,000, and individuals with incomes under $13,000, may qualify for the earned income tax credit and other credits and deductions.  

Catholic Charities’ VITA efforts are part of Paths of HOPE, a Catholic Charities’ program to help vulnerable individuals and families to permanently improve their financial situations and achieve long-term prosperity through a continuum of education, skill and resource building, planning and mentorship. Paths of HOPE and VITA are funded in part by the United Way.

Catholic Charities Community Services is an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provider and is providing free tax preparation through April 15. To schedule a free appointment at the Catholic Charities VITA location nearest you, contact:

Greater Phoenix – Melissa Dunmore 602-749-4464 mdunmore@cc-az.org
Quad Cities – Haley Hyatt 928.708.7279 hhyatt@cc-az.org
Cottonwood – Tania Simms 928.634.4254 tsimms@cc-az.org


About Catholic Charities Community Services

Catholic Charities Community Services helps our community's most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives. We help people of all faiths, backgrounds and abilities. Last year, we touched 90,715 lives in Central and Northern Arizona. We are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services and are a member organization of Catholic Charities USA. To learn more visit CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.

Media Contact:
Laura Toussaint-Newkirk
Communications and Marketing Manager
602.650.4830
ltoussaint@cc-az.org