United Way of Greater Lafayette is celebrating a record-setting year for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income households throughout Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and surrounding counties.
During the 2026 tax season, 70 dedicated volunteers contributed more than 3,650 service hours to help approximately 2,750 households file their tax returns accurately and at no cost. Together, volunteers prepared 2,765 federal tax returns (5,529 including state returns), making this the most successful season in the program's 16-year history.
Compared to the previous year, the program served roughly 485 additional taxpayers, prepared more than 1,100 additional tax returns, and increased its total community impact by more than $1.26 million. Refunds returned to local households increased by nearly 46%, reflecting both increased demand for services and United Way's expanded capacity to meet that need.
The impact of those efforts extends far beyond tax returns. VITA helped local families receive more than $3.64 million in federal and state tax refunds while saving taxpayers an estimated $687,500 in preparation fees that would otherwise have gone to paid tax preparation services. Combined, the program delivered more than $4.33 million in financial benefit to local households during the 2025 filing season. With an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of just $27,474, the households served through VITA are often among those most affected by rising costs and economic uncertainty.
"Every return prepared represents a meaningful connection with a taxpayer — helping households access critical credits, reduce costs, and strengthen their financial well-being," said Michelle Gorvie, Community Impact Associate and VITA Program Manager at United Way of Greater Lafayette. "This season's success is a direct result of the incredible volunteers, community partners, and supporters who came together to ensure our neighbors had access to free, high-quality tax preparation services."
This year's accomplishments are especially significant given the increased demand for services following the closure of the only other local VITA site. To ensure taxpayers continued to have access to free tax assistance, United Way expanded operations by adding six Saturday sessions, six Thursday evening sessions, increasing appointment capacity, expanding drop-off services, and hosting additional VITA To-Go events throughout the community. These efforts helped remove transportation and scheduling barriers while allowing the program to serve hundreds of additional taxpayers.
The season was also marked by tremendous growth in volunteer engagement and community partnerships. United Way welcomed several experienced volunteers from the closed VITA program whose knowledge, dedication, and commitment to service helped ensure a seamless transition for many taxpayers seeking assistance. Their willingness to continue serving the community played a critical role in the program's success.
New partnerships further strengthened the program's impact. First Merchants Bank joined the VITA program as a volunteer partner, providing team members who supported client communication and scheduling efforts throughout the filing season. Their assistance helped improve the client experience and ensured taxpayers received timely information and support.
United Way also launched a new volunteer partnership with the West Lafayette Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Volunteers from the congregation generously shared their time and talents to support tax preparation operations and help meet the growing demand for services.
The organization extends a special thank you to Purdue Federal Credit Union for its extraordinary support of the VITA program this season. In the absence of an IRS VITA Grant award, Purdue Federal stepped forward with a generous grant that helped ensure the continuation and expansion of free tax preparation services for thousands of local taxpayers. Their investment allowed United Way to maintain service levels, expand capacity, and continue delivering high-quality assistance to families throughout the region.
Behind every return prepared was a dedicated team of volunteers who completed IRS certification training and donated thousands of hours to serve their neighbors. From retirees and working professionals to college students seeking hands-on experience, volunteers played an essential role in helping taxpayers navigate the filing season with confidence and peace of mind.
Despite record production and increased demand, the program maintained a 99% e-file acceptance rate, reflecting the commitment of volunteers and staff to accuracy, quality, and compliance with IRS standards.
Since United Way began operating VITA in 2010, the program has served more than 16,600 taxpayers and prepared over 35,500 federal and state tax returns. During that time, VITA has returned nearly $27.8 million in federal and state refunds to local households while saving taxpayers more than $4.9 million in tax preparation fees. Combined, the program has generated more than $32.7 million in direct community impact, making it one of United Way's most successful financial stability initiatives.
Looking ahead to the 2027 tax season, United Way plans to further expand service capacity by offering more in-person and drop-off appointments, increase VITA To-Go opportunities in rural communities, and develop partnerships with senior and low-income housing complexes to make free tax preparation even more accessible for individuals facing transportation and mobility barriers.
Interested in volunteering with VITA next season? Now is the perfect time to learn more. Volunteers of all backgrounds are welcome, and training is provided. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit uwlafayette.org/mytaxes or contact the VITA team at taxes@uwlafayette.org.
Together, volunteers, community partners, funders, and supporters made the 2026 tax season a record-breaking success, returning more than $4.33 million in refunds and savings to local households, expanding access to free tax preparation services, and helping thousands of families build a stronger financial future.