News
On a cold January morning, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) call centers in Hudson Falls and Glens Falls at Tri-County United Way are already ringing. Each call represents a familiar concern for many households: how to get through tax season without added stress or expense.
Those calls mark the start of another year of the VITA program, which is now accepting appointments. Through VITA, families and individuals with a household income of $69,000 or less can receive free federal and New York State income tax preparation, completed by IRS-certified local volunteers.
For more than 20 years, VITA has been a steady, trusted presence across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties. Each winter, volunteers commit to weeks of comprehensive training and IRS certification before ever preparing a return. Their focus is on accuracy, confidentiality and ensuring every eligible credit is claimed. Once completed, returns are filed electronically using secure IRS software, helping refunds reach households faster. Often when they are needed most.
Not every tax situation can be handled through VITA. Returns that include rental income, self-employment income, stock sales, farm income or active military pay fall outside the program’s scope. However, for thousands of households with straightforward returns, VITA has become a reliable lifeline year after year. The impact is both personal and powerful.
“I use VITA because it’s quick, easy, and the tax preparers are very thorough,” said one VITA client. “They’ve never had any issues and I’ve been returning for over 10 years.”
“We have been coming to VITA for years to have our taxes done and it’s always a positive experience,” said another client. “The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable. They always make sure we get the maximum refund available. We wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”
During the 2025 tax season, 49 IRS-certified volunteers, including 35 tax preparers and 14 appointment schedulers, donated 3,566 hours of service, valued at more than $127,000. Together, they scheduled 2,473 appointments and prepared 2,133 tax returns, returning over $3.2 million in federal and state refunds to local households. Taxpayers saved $746,550 in professional preparation fees, generating a total local economic impact of $4.08 million.
This year brings new challenges for VITA, as volunteers assist clients in navigating recent tax law changes, including the reduction of tax on tips and overtime, the new senior tax credit, and other updates. Tax preparers also provide Tri-County United Way Resource Guides and healthcare referral information for those without insurance.
One of VITA’s most important features is that support is not limited to residents of Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties. Approximately 40–50 clients, taxpayers or families are from Vermont and other surrounding areas. People travel from across the region to have their taxes filed.
Appointments for the 2026 VITA season begin January 31 and run through April 13. Eligible households may schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-211-5128. Phone lines are open now. A checklist of required documents and additional program information is available at tricountyunitedway.org/vitavisit. Those who prefer to file taxes themselves can email [email protected] to request a link to access the FREE online software .
To meet community needs, services were offered at five traditional VITA sites and through two mobile teams, providing 846 hours of free tax assistance from January through April. The program’s total coverage area spans 2,106 square miles.
For many clients, the impact goes beyond numbers. Refunds help cover heating bills, groceries, child care, and savings, offering relief and stability. What begins as a tax appointment often becomes a reminder of how community support can make a meaningful difference.
Through VITA, Tri-County United Way continues to turn tax season into an opportunity: strengthening households, supporting volunteers, and investing directly back into the communities it serves.
Written & photographed by Laura Jensen, Director of Community Engagement & Communications at Tri-County United Way