Hawaii Tax Help & Financial Empowerment Solutions

We are a Hawaii non-profit that operates the largest VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program in the State of Hawaii which works in conjunction with the IRS' VITA Program. The Program is volunteer driven. Each year, over 200 community volunteers across the State of Hawaii train and obtain IRS certification as volunteer tax return preparers.  Our goals are to (1) provide free tax help to low-to-moderate income Hawaii residents (2) educate the public through workshops and dissemination of information that focus on preventing tax-related debts and helping people avoid costly scams and (3) expand our "Learn Early. Live Smarter." program which recruits and trains high school students to become certified volunteer tax return preparers. 

Our Program:

1.  Saves low to moderate income Hawaii workers money by providing free tax return preparation for income eligible individuals. Clients served thus far: 43,500  Amount of money saved for those clients: $8.6 Million

2.  Protects taxpayers from fraud and scams

3.  Educates and empowers individuals regarding matters related to financial literacy;we focus on helping individuals avoid tax-related debts and scams

4.  Builds stronger communities-the money that we save and obtain for residents are used to purchase goods and services which helps local businesses, lifts people out of poverty, reduces the burden on welfare programs, and helps individuals achieve self-sufficiency.  The economic impact of this Program thus far: $60,376.106 

5.  Our "Learn Early. Live Smarter." initiative which began 3 years go recruits and trains high school students to become volunteer tax return preparers. In addition to providing a valuable service to the community, these students learn a valuable skill and basic tax law that will help them to avoid tax debt in the future. Number of students trained thus far: 235