The New Year is here and of course that means it’s time to be concerned about paying income tax. And once again help is being offered in Madison, Wisconsin to low and moderate-income workers.

Stephanie Thompson, a former Vista volunteer with Progress Through Business is coordinating our free tax help program in Madison in her new position as community and campus relations coordinator for the University of Wisconsin (UW) Credit Union. She explains there are eight sites throughout the city where people can get free tax help. The sites include UW Hospital and Clinics, Madison College, and UW Credit Union offices.

Help is from trained volunteers who are members of Beta, the accounting fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the returns are reviewed by employees of the UW Credit Union. Help is available on weekdays from 9am to 2pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.

“We’re expecting to break 500 returns this year,” says Thompson.

The tax help for the average client in past years meant $500 more into his or her pocket than would otherwise be the case. For someone earning $11/hour, that amounts to a 2% raise. That’s money that does not come out of the employer’s pocket, meaning both the worker and the employer benefit.