For Immediate Release
Date: Jan. 31, 2024
Contact: Aaron Selbig, Communications Coordinator
502-574-6587 • aaron.selbig@louisvilleky.gov
Web: www.louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services
Reading Time: 2 min, 30 sec

METRO GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Offers Free Tax Help to Eligible Louisville Residents

Louisville, KY. – Metro government officials and community partners will kick off the start of tax season Friday, February 2, with a press event announcing the start of free tax preparation assistance for eligible residents. 

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 15 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2023.

Since its launch in 2001, the VITA program has helped more than 143,000 Louisville tax filers. Last year, VITA volunteers processed more than 7,700 returns, adding more than $12 million to the local economy, including nearly $2 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to residents.

"The tax filing services offered by our amazing VITA volunteers are a real game-changer for Louisville working families,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “With trusted, experienced people helping them qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit while avoiding predatory tax services, Louisvillians can save money for things that matter, like home ownership, a reliable new vehicle, or savings for college tuition.”

Mayor Greenberg thanked the many partner organizations that help hardworking families file their tax returns, including the Metro Office for Resilience and Community Services (RCS). Metro RCS connects tax filers to an array of financial empowerment services through the Louisville Financial Empowerment Center, which provides free financial counseling, and the Tax Time Connect initiative with Bank On Louisville.

Eligible Louisville residents can make an appointment to visit these VITA sites for in-person free tax filing. Most sites use convenient drop-off services.

• Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Dr.
• Bates, 728 East Lampton St.
• Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Ste 201
• Family Scholar House U of L, 403 Reg Smith Circle
• Family Scholar House Riverport, 3311 Cathe Dykstra Way
• Goodwill Resource Center, 909 E. Broadway
• Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
• Oldham County LaGrange Library, 308 Yager Avenue (LaGrange)
• Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird St.
• Shively City Hall, 3920 Dixie Hwy.
• St. Vincent de Paul Family Success Center, 1029 S Preston Hwy.
• Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane
• United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St.
• Wesley House Community Services, 5114 Preston Hwy.
• Various mobile locations around the city (check www.labcservices.org for sites) 

To schedule an appointment for in-person tax assistance, call 502-305-0005 or visit https://louisvillekyvita.cascheduler.com. For more details, including days and hours of drop off services, visit https://labcservices.org/.

Free tax preparation kicks off in 2024 with the annual “Taxathon” event which offers 24-hours of free tax preparation at the Louisville Urban League. The Taxathon event runs Friday, February 2nd, from 9am to 9pm, and Saturday, February 3rd, from 9am to 9pm. Filers can walk in during these times for free tax preparation services.

"As the largest VITA site, it is an honor to serve the community and host another tax-a-thon this year,” said Lyndon E. Pryor, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League. "VITA is an invaluable resource to the Louisville community, providing necessary assistance and wealth-building opportunities to those most in need. The League loves being a partner in this work." 

Residents can also choose to have their taxes prepared at MyFreeTaxes.com, which provides a free self-file program offered in partnership by United Way Worldwide and TaxSlayer.

AARP Tax-Aide also provides free tax prep services, with special attention to people age 60 and older. AARP Tax-Aide sites will begin operating at eight sites in early February. For more information, visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org.

The work of the Louisville Asset Building Coalition and the AARP Tax Assistance Program is made possible by Metro United Way, Louisville Metro Government, the IRS, the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation and dozens of other partners, and hundreds of volunteers.

PRESS EVENT

WHAT: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) kickoff event

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Louisville Urban League, 1535 West Broadway

WHO: Featured speakers include Mayor Craig Greenberg, Lyndon Pryor (President/CEO of Louisville Urban League), Pamela Quayson (Internal Revenue Service), Metro Council Member Cindi Fowler, Eileen Brown (VITA Site Coordinator, Sun Valley Community Center), Shekia Williams (VITA Client), and Dr. Tina White (Director of the Louisville Asset Building Coalition).

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