Tax Credit Alliance of Nebraska provides free tax credit clinics and prepares for free federal and stateincome taxes for underserved populations. We are sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center on Children, Families, and the Law.


VITA History and Purpose

VITA

The IRS first founded the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the University of California-Monterey in 1971, and since then, VITA has grown nationwide to assist millions of individuals file their income tax returns. An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sponsored program. The Lincoln Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation to Lincoln community members. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Lincoln started preparing free tax returns through the UNL College of Law and the Lincoln Public Libraries in 1982. The Lincoln EITC Coalition was organized in 2003, and in 2015 UNL began leading the Coalition.

Earned Income (EITC) and Child Tax Credits

Many of the families in Lincoln qualify for Earned Income (EITC and Child Tax Credits. The earned income tax credit (EITC), was deemed as “the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress”. Individuals must earn a wage to qualify.

Impact of Earned Income Credits & Additional Child Tax Credits

  • Children in families receiving EITC do better in school, are likelier to attend college, and can be expected to earn more as adults.
  • Improves the health of infants and mothers
  • Rewards work and supplementing wages of low- paid or near poor workers.
  • Provides a short-term safety net for working families, especially families facing hardship or care for newborns or very young children.

Lincoln VITA Statistics

  Returns Total Refund Total EIC Total CTC
TY2016 3,374 $3,995,027 $1,378,190 $602,369
TY2015 3,309 $4,330,254 $1,392,391 $835,411


If you need to file your taxes, click the tab above to get connected with VITA. Also consider volunteering with VITA and join a community of volunteers committed to serving Lincoln.