courtesy of Chesterfield County

Volunteers with the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services completed and filed 198 returns for taxpayers between Jan. 28 and March 25, as part of a regional free tax-preparation program. The site set a record this year for the number of families served.

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is a member of the Greater Richmond Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and offers free tax-preparation assistance each year to individuals and families with incomes of $49,000 or less. The assistance is provided with the help of volunteer tax preparers from the community.

Highlights from the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights site:

- The average annual income for taxpayers who were assisted was $15,813.

- A total of $350,900 in federal tax refunds was returned to those assisted.

- A total of $41,315 in state tax refunds was returned to those assisted.

“I am so proud of our wonderful volunteers who made this possible and really seemed to enjoy the challenges and long hours,” said Chris Ramsey, a social work supervisor for the department who oversees the program. “It has been such an honor to work alongside them.”

For more information about free tax preparation through the Greater Richmond Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, call the United Way at 211 or visit yourunitedway.org.