CrossState Credit Union Association Senior Vice President of Government Relations Christina Mihalik and White Rose Credit Union President/CEO Debra Kauffman appeared on Pennsylvania Newsmakers recently to discuss credit union participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The IRS sponsors VITA, in which volunteers can help consumers prepare their taxes for free.

There are approximately 14,000 VITA sites nationwide staffed by more than 85,000 volunteers. The program helps 3.5 million consumers annually, most of whom are low-income, disabled, elderly, or have limited English proficiency.

“There are several hundred sites across Pennsylvania and more than a dozen credit unions that participate in the program,” Mihalik said. “Credit unions in this program fill a void left by companies that might charge a lot of money for tax work.

White Rose Credit Union has participated in VITA for more than 10 years, Kauffman said, and they make concerted efforts to reach out to eligible individuals as tax season approaches.

“This is a free service for those that qualify and it helps them,” she said. “Volunteers are trained to get the most amount of money refunded to their clients.”