Goodwill Manasota and United Way Suncoast recently announced results of the 2026 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax season, marking the program’s strongest financial return in recent history.
As
a key host site partner, Goodwill Manasota welcomed 765 community members across two area locations this season, returning more than $860,000 in refunds to Sarasota-Bradenton area families at no cost to filers.
VITA services started in June at the Goodwill Manasota (Mecca) Community Room (5150 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota), with additional Wednesday dates planned throughout the year. Services will be available the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month through September, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community members are encouraged to call 941-748-1313 for an appointment.
Goodwill Manasota hosted VITA services at its North Sarasota store (5150 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota) and Corporate Campus in Oneco (2705 51st Ave. E., Bradenton), providing accessible, trusted community spaces for residents to receive certified tax preparation services.
“Providing accessible locations where community members can receive free, expert tax assistance is one of the most tangible ways we can support financial stability in the region,” said Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Donn Githens. “We are proud to serve as a partner in this program alongside United Way Suncoast and so many dedicated organizations, and we are grateful to the certified volunteers whose time and expertise make it possible for families to keep more of what they earn.”
Across the region, the VITA effort completed 9,979 federal returns as of May 1, a 3.2% increase over 2025, with certified volunteer tax preparers serving households across Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Citrus counties. Total refunds reached $11.1 million, a 19.5% increase year-over-year. Families claimed $2,342,488 in Earned Income Tax Credits, $1,263,765 in Child Tax Credits, and $214,372 in Education Credits, while avoiding an estimated $2.37 million in professional tax preparation fees. A total of 198 state returns were also filed successfully.
“At United Way Suncoast, we continue to be pleased with the role Goodwill Manasota plays in extending our VITA services across the region,” said United Way Suncoast’s chief communications officer Ernest Hooper. “With our latest ALICE report revealing that nearly half of all the households in our region are struggling to make ends meet, the collective impact of the VITA program has never been more important.”
Supporting free tax preparation
VITA utilizes certified volunteers to provide free tax preparation services at a variety of public locations, including libraries, schools, and community-based organizations such as Goodwill Manasota in high-need areas. The VITA program is an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation for underserved populations, including low- to moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, older adults, and limited English speakers. The program is available to households with annual earnings at or below $96,000.
Remote filing options remained available this season, with community members able to file from home through MyFreeTaxes and TaxSlayer with the assistance of certified volunteers, extending the partnership’s reach beyond in-person sites. VITA tax preparers can prepare returns with credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, Education Credits, and Retirement Saver’s Credit.
For updated VITA location details and hours, visit uwsvita.org. For more about Goodwill Manasota’s programs, services and store locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org.
Submitted by Sharon Kunkel
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Goodwill tax program returns thousands to local families
