Hernando Volunteers Saved Families $797K in Tax Prep Fees

Imagine saving your family hundreds of dollars just by having someone who cares help with your taxes instead of paying a preparation service.

That's exactly what happened for 1,993 Hernando County households last tax season. United Way volunteers prepared their returns completely free through the VITA program, keeping an estimated $797,200 in the pockets of local families who needed it most.

Those savings went straight to essentials like groceries, rent, electricity bills, and car payments. For families already stretching every dollar, avoiding tax prep fees can mean the difference between stress and stability.

Now United Way is inviting neighbors to become part of this life-changing work. They need volunteers to serve as tax preparers, greeters, and quality reviewers for the 2027 season running February through mid-April.

Here's the best part: you don't need any tax experience. United Way provides free training and helps volunteers get IRS certified, with flexible weekly shifts that fit around busy schedules.

The program is hosting a meet and greet on Thursday, October 22, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Rookies Family Grille & Bar in Spring Hill. Breakfast is included for those who RSVP at the United Way website, and attendees will learn exactly what the volunteer commitment looks like.

Training happens January 5 to 7, 2027, at Pasco-Hernando State College's Spring Hill campus. From there, volunteers choose their weekly shifts during tax season based on what works for their lives.

The Ripple Effect

When volunteers help one family file taxes correctly, they're doing more than paperwork. They're helping parents claim tax credits they might not have known existed, preventing costly mistakes that could delay refunds, and building trust in a system that often feels overwhelming.

That extra money families keep stays local. It pays landlords, grocery stores, utility companies, and mechanics in the same community where volunteers live and work.

Every return prepared is a family breathing easier, a household gaining financial breathing room, and a community growing stronger together.