What is CASH?

CASH stands for Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope. It is a program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service for volunteers to provide free tax preparation service to benefit low and moderate-income, elderly, and disabled families. Many low and moderate-income working families in the Charlottesville community can benefit from this program by claiming their EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit). With your help, the average family can receive a refund of $1700!

What is Earned Income Tax Credit?

EITC is one of the largest anti-poverty tools in the US yet 25% of those eligible for EITC do not claim their refund because they fail to complete their tax forms. The EITC is a payroll tax refund for the low and moderate-income working families and the average family receives $1,700 refund but some families can receive as must as $4,000. Put another way: The refund equals a 36% or $1.92 per hour pay increase!

What are my responsibilities as a volunteer?

Volunteers must attend multiple mandatory training sessions in the fall. Volunteers must then pass the IRS online certification exam. Once the spring semester begins, volunteers will prepare tax returns with an online software on a weekly basis.

What has CASH accomplished?

In spring 2009, CASH helped more than 400 taxpayers to prepare their tax returns. Furthermore, more than half a million in federal and state refunds were collected.

Why should I join CASH?

Save taxpayers money
Prepare tax returns for yourself and your friends
Acquire much knowledge on individual taxes that you would not have learned
Great for resumes and applications

How do I become a CASH volunteer?

Because the tax season begins in January and volunteers need sufficient time to get trained and certified, CASH only accepts applications in the fall. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer of CASH, we urge you to attend one of our information sessions in the fall.

Information Sessions

September 16, 2009 - 5 p.m. - Maury Hall 209