VITA Latino continues to grow, now with over $1 million in refunds returned to Latinx taxpayers!
Initially launched by the IRS, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program aids low- to moderate-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and those with limited English proficiency in filing their taxes for free annually. In Charlotte and surrounding cities, VITA Latino focuses on serving a segment of the community that has historically encountered obstacles in tax preparation due to financial and language barriers.
VITA Latino is a component of Common Wealth Charlotte’s (CWC) Spanish initiative, Buenas Finanzas Carolinas (BFC). This program delivers a comprehensive range of financial literacy and capability services while being tailored through a culturally sensitive approach to more effectively serve Charlotte’s expanding and underserved Latinx community. Since inception, VITA Latino has returned a total of $2,150,238 in tax refunds – and the financial impact continues to grow.
As BFC’s Director, Yuly Rodriguez emphasizes the program’s growth throughout the years, “leading VITA Latino over the past four years has been an incredibly rewarding journey. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers, many of whom have been with us since the beginning, who share our commitment to serving the Latino community. Our work fills a critical gap in access to trustworthy, culturally responsive tax assistance. Filing taxes can be an overwhelming process, regardless of language or background, and we’re proud to offer a space where clients feel informed, supported, and empowered to take control of their financial futures.
Each year, the program continues to grow in reach and impact. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and remain deeply committed to maintaining the high quality of our services while expanding our capacity to better serve our clients and community.”
VITA Latino 2025 (based on the 2024 tax year) saved $225,750 in tax preparation costs and returned $1,030,487 in refunds to Latinx taxpayers. These are incredibly impactful results as they show that one tax season could provide an individual with extra money to build a path toward financial stability. Additionally, 713 taxes were submitted through the program totaling $382,055 in taxes paid - and these results could not have been possible without the generous support of community partners and volunteers.
This year, there were 15 VITA Latino host sites – two of which were new partners, and 13 of which were recurring. Host sites offered clients a dedicated space to consult about their taxes, and also contributed to marketing efforts to expand the program’s visibility and impact. With a total of 1,484 individuals served, VITA Latino’s success was largely attributed to the time donated by its volunteers. Volunteers dedicate themselves to guiding clients through the tax process by ensuring accurate filings, maximizing annual refunds, minimizing costs, uncovering missed deductions, and providing education on income tax procedures. For 2025, there were 35 trained individuals, leading to 13 active volunteers.
One of those volunteers, Jorge Benites, highlights his experience, “as a volunteer at VITA Latino was deeply enriching and rewarding, both personally and professionally. During this time, I had the opportunity to acquire a wide variety of knowledge related to community work, intercultural collaboration, and tax preparation. Every day represented an opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute based on my skills and commitment.
One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was the contact with wonderful people: from the other volunteers to the community members and especially the VITA Latino staff. They all contributed to creating a warm, collaborative, and motivating environment, which made my volunteer time not only enjoyable but also transformative. Every experience, no matter how small it was, contributed to my growth and reaffirmed my interest in continuing to contribute to social causes.
I am deeply grateful to have been part of this organization, for everything I learned, and for the positive impact this experience has had on me. I would recommend volunteering with VITA Latino to anyone who wants to actively and consciously engage in social change and support for the Latino community.” Experiences like Jorge’s is what reminds BFC that VITA Latino positively impacts the community beyond the clients they serve. From first-time volunteers to volunteers who have recurred since the start, see what others have to say about the program:
This VITA Latino season wrapped up with another celebration of all its dedicated volunteers, as well as a resourceful event that brought Latinx community members, BFC clients, and local organizations together for networking and education. Despertando el Sueño Americano: Segundo Encuentro de Prosperidad Latina was an all-day summit (completely spoken in Spanish) spent connecting attendees with valuable information and resources, as well as celebrating BFC’s five years of success supporting the Latinx community in Charlotte and some surrounding counties. Topics included affordable housing, entrepreneurship, legal consultation, and more. Read the full recap here.
This annual summit is one alternative approach BFC uses to extend its support beyond just free tax preparation - by becoming a key part of the Latinx community's path to financial literacy and development.
To learn more about how you can be a partner in providing economic stability and free tax preparation to the Latinx community, please visit vitalatino.org or commonwealthcharlotte.org today.