Pima County Housing Center, 801 W. Congress St.

The Pima County Housing Center is one of 22 local sites where volunteers are helping low- and moderate-income individuals and families prepare their 2012 federal and state income tax returns for free.

If your individual income was $25,000 or less or your household income was $51,000 or less last year, the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program can help you secure all the refunds and credits you are eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Trained VITA volunteers are at the Housing Center, 801 W. Congress St., from 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Saturday, April 13.

When you go, be sure to bring with you:

• Picture I.D. for taxpayer and spouse (if applicable)
• ORIGINAL Social Security card for each family member
• Proof of income, including W-2s and 1099 forms
• Documentation of deductible expenses
• Account and routing numbers of checking and savings accounts for direct deposit of refunds
• Prior year tax return (if possible)

Last year, United Way’s 319 trained volunteers prepared 8,558 tax returns and secured $12.6 million in tax refunds for participating individuals and families.

For more information in English and Spanish, visit www.unitedwaytucson.org/vita.

Pima County employees increased by nearly $27,000 their annual support to United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and affiliated charities through this year’s Employees Combined Appeal Program.

Employees’ pledges and donations in this year’s campaign increased 6.1 percent to $466,735.62 from $439,748.76 last year.

Shelley Rose, a recreation program coordinator at Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, has chaired the Pima County ECAP Steering Committee since 2009.

“It’s wonderful to see Pima County employees giving more for the second consecutive year, especially by such a large amount,” Rose said. “The Human Resources Department, with 46 employees, was the largest of three that had 100 percent participation. They really went the extra mile.”

The number of employees contributing increased to 1,991, from 1,910 last year. Pima County employs 7,203 people.

The Employees Combined Appeal Program provides financial support to more than 200 charities.  Employees support the charities they choose through a one-time donation in 2012 or payroll deduction through 2013. All of the funds pledged or donated go to the designated charities. The County contracts with the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona to record the donations and distribute the funds to the designated charities.

County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry praised County employees for the generosity and service that make the community better. “That’s what we do as a government,” Huckelberry said.  “We’re very proud of the efforts employees have made over the years.”

“United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona wants to thank County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry and the employees of Pima County for their generous support of our 2012 giving campaign,” said Tony Penn, President and CEO of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. “Their generosity exemplifies their commitment to improving lives and our local community. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.”

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona raised approximately $9.5 million, including area employers’ workplace campaigns, during the year ended June 30, 2012.

For more information on Pima County ECAP, please visit www.pima.gov/ECAP.