The Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) offers free income tax preparation assistance for low-income residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). IRS-certified volunteers prepare taxes for qualified residents through April 15, in five locations throughout the county: Bri stol(2), Doylestown, Quakertown, and Newtown. Individuals and families with a combined income of $69,000 or less may be eligible for the program. Dedicated volunteers make this program possible, spending nights and weekends learning the ins and outs of tax preparation. They attend training on various federal, state and local tax laws, as well as tax credits aimed at low- and moderate- income families, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, before taking an IRS-certification exam each year. In 2025, BCOC tax volunteers completed 1,577 returns for Bucks County families, resulting in more than $2.3 million in refunds, tax credits, and saved preparation fees that stayed in the local economy. VITA is sponsored by the IRS and supported locally by Bucks County Foundation and First National Bank Trust Co. of Newtown.  Their contributions have helped to keep this program running locally for 21 years. Appointments are required and requests to schedule a personal time are now open. To request an appointment, visit VITA: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance – Bucks County Opportunity Council. For questions, please reach out to Danielle Bush, Volunteer and Community Connections Manager, at [email protected] or call 215-345-8175 x209. BCOC is the lead anti-poverty, non-profit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive. BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes emergency services, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 74 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment. For over 60 years, the Opportunity Council has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency. — Courtesy of Bucks County Opportunity Council ...read more read less