Since Krisna became a VITA volunteer in 2010, she’s been helping families save money on tax preparation services and has been a huge asset in helping us serve Tarrant County’s diverse population. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Krisna helps those not fluent in English fully understand the entire filing process and tax-related terms.
“Taxes are complicated even when English is your first language,” said Krisna. “We have a lot of Spanish, French and Vietnamese speakers come in, and they are totally lost.”
For every VITA client, volunteers ensure they’re taking advantage of every tax credit they qualify for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Because of these credits, many families are surprised to learn how much their tax refunds can be. Clients are overjoyed because those large sums of money can make a big difference for a family.
Last year, she was able to help Diana and Carlos Moreno*, a married couple with six children at home, two of whom were about to start college and needed transportation. After preparing their taxes with Krisna, they discovered they’d be getting $26,000 back. Their refund allowed them to buy cars for their college-bound children.
“They hugged me and cried, and I reminded them that that is their money,” said Krisna.
For another couple Krisna assisted, a $10,000 refund meant finally owning their own home. They used this money for a down payment on a house, moving out of a rental property they could no longer afford.
