Community Renewal Team Offers Free Tax Preparation Services in Manchester

Free income tax preparation services offered by Community Renewal Team are helping low- and middle-income Connecticut families capture maximum tax credits while saving them costs on tax preparation services – to the tune of millions of dollars. 

Last year, CRT tax volunteers put more than $6.7 million into the pockets of Hartford and Middlesex County families through federal Earned Income Tax Credits, child care credits, tax refunds and savings on tax preparation fees. CRT tax customers have held on to more than $30 million in the past five years. 

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), offered by organizations across the nation, offers free tax preparation by IRS-certified volunteers to income-eligible families. State and federal returns are e-filed, and refund checks are direct-deposited for those who have checking accounts or issued as a pre-loaded bank card for those who cannot open a traditional bank account. 

2012 marks the tenth year for CRT’s VITA program. Last year, CRT completed tax returns for more than 1,955 area households at locations in Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford and Middletown. VITA aims to help working families obtain tax refunds and credits and to educate the community about refunds and opportunities to grow their assets. CRT will offer VITA services at most sites from now until April 15, 2011. 

Appointments are available in Manchester at this location:

• 479 Main St. (Manchester Human Services Bureau): Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Melissa Simmons (860) 647-3095

Appointments are also available at three CRT Community Resource Centers in Hartford:

• 1229 Albany Ave.
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. – noon; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. – noon; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday 9 a.m. - noon
• 330 Market Street, and 395 Wethersfield Ave.
  • Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – noon; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Closed on April 6th for Good Friday
• Contacts:
  • 1229 Albany Ave, Ana Echevarria, (860) 560-5776
  • 330 Market Street, Luis Escalera, (860) 560-5782
  • 395 Wethersfield Ave., Katiria Rivera, (860) 560-5894

Limited Hartford appointments also are available at:

• 555 Windsor Street (CRT): Tuesday and Thursday, 2-5 p.m. Contact (860) 560-5600
• 443 Franklin Ave. (Hartford Municipal Employee Federal Credit Union): Thursday, 3-6 p.m. Contact Carmen Ramos, 722-8110 x3

Appointments in Middletown and East Hartford at the following locations:

• Middletown: 44 Hamlin (CRT): Monday 1-3 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m.-noon; Friday 1-4 p.m.; Saturdays Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 10 and March 31 only, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Evening hours Feb. 7, March 10, April 6, 4-6 p.m. April 13, 16 walk-ins from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; April 17 walk-ins from 9 a.m. – noon. Contact Michele Ryon, (860) 347-4465
• East Hartford: 81 Woodlawn Circle (Larson Community Center): Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Giovanna Bajonero, (860) 282-0284.

Community Renewal Team, Inc. is the designated Community Action Agency for Middlesex and Hartford Counties and is the largest non-profit provider of human services in Connecticut.