VITA Program Partners with Tri Counties Bank

Volunteer Powered Program Helps Low- and Moderate-Income Households File Their Tax Returns
for Free and Get Refunds They Deserve

JEDI Community Bulletin

Mt. Shasta, CA – Since 2005, the JEDI (Jefferson Economic Development Institute) has served as a VITA site for Siskiyou County. VITA, which stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is a program of the Internal Revenue Service intended to increase access to quality tax preparation services and tax counseling. This tax season, a new partnership between a coalition of North State VITA providers and Tri Counties Bank branches is launching to better serve rural areas of the North State.

Lead by VITA at JEDI, NorCal VITA Coalition partners including United Way of Northern California and the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency are working with Tri Counties Bank branches in Yreka, Weed, Anderson, Palo Cedro, Burney, and Hayfork to expand existing VITA services. Members of the public who qualify for free tax preparation through the VITA program will be able to drop off their intake paperwork at participating Tri Counties branches by appointment.

Tri Counties Bank branches will securely transfer intake paperwork to their partner VITA site who will complete tax returns virtually. The pilot partnership is designed to assist individuals who face barriers accessing traditional physical VITA sites and need in-person assistance to access virtual VITA tax preparation services.

VITA at JEDI will open for the tax season on the first day the IRS will accept e-filed tax returns, Monday, January 27 th . VITA at JEDI serves households across the county through our walk-in office hours at our Mount Shasta office and our seasonal, by-appointment site in Yreka.

In addition to VITA free tax preparation, VITA at JEDI is excited to offer expanded financial advice and planning resources through our partnership with Golden State Opportunity. Individuals who need assistance identifying and applying for financial assistance through various public benefit programs can request a referral through VITA at JEDI to AssistHub where they will be matched with a dedicated coach to navigate and apply for benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), unemployment insurance, federal financial aid, and CalFresh.

Individuals seeking to expand their financial success can also access a dedicated, pro bono financial advisor through Advisors Give Back to develop strategies and key actions you can take to achieve your financial goals.

For twenty years VITA at JEDI has provided services and support low to moderate income clients in rural Northern California and last year alone saved clients an estimated $228,600 in tax preparation fees. To learn more about VITA services, find participating Siskiyou Counties Tri Counties Bank branch information, and make an appointment or get digital copies of intake forms, please visit vitajedi.org

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