ALEXANDRIA, VA — NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland has sought to promote greater credit union involvement with voluntary income tax preparation through a Webcast devoted to the topic.

The Webcast included the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The IRS leads the voluntary income tax preparation through its Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program.

“Providing free tax preparation enhances credit unions' ability to connect with their communities and provides a vital service to the members,” Hyland said introducing the webcast speakers. “What's more, the VITA program provides credit unions access to a network of national organizations, 325 community coalitions and the IRS. This webcast offers credit unions the chance to learn from the experts about the VITA program and these partnership opportunities. Future NCUA webcasts will focus on ways to establish a VITA website and additional opportunities to partner with other government agencies.”

The NCUA-IRS Webcast featured speakers from the IRS and two credit unions actively involved in the VITA program. The program presented information regarding VITA and partnerships with community coalitions. Currently, nearly 200 credit unions are involved in the VITA program and related coalition outreach efforts, the agency said.