On Friday, January 16, Connecticut officials encouraged residents to file their taxes this year, saying many people are owed money but may not realize it.

“For many people in Connecticut, we owe you money,” said Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton. “Whether it’s federal money, state money or both, we want people to file so we can get that money back to them.”

Boughton joined Governor Ned Lamont, state Rep. Chris Rosario of Bridgeport, and community leaders at an event held at CT State Community College Housatonic, to discuss changes to the federal tax code that could affect refunds for state residents.

Community organizations that provide free tax preparation said these services help families claim credits they qualify for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Juan Berrios, executive director of Simplify CT, said volunteer groups helped prepare tax returns for more than 40,000 residents last year, returning over $50 million to taxpayers.

Still, many eligible residents miss out. Berrios said about 10,000 people who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit do not claim it each year, leaving an estimated $10 million in federal benefits unclaimed.

“And that doesn’t include what the state has to offer,” he said.

Isabel Almeida, president and CEO of United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut, said access to free tax help can make the difference between financial strain and financial stability for many households.

She said this is especially important for residents facing language barriers, complex family situations, or limited incomes. Many fall below the United Way’s ALICE threshold, which includes households that earn too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to cover basic needs.

Statewide, about 40 percent of households fall below that threshold. In Bridgeport, the number is about 67 percent, Almeida said.

Money returned through free tax assistance not only helps individual families, Almedia pointed out. It also supports local economies by helping residents pay for essentials such as rent, utilities, childcare, and food.

“These dollars become economic drivers in the community,” she added.

Governor Lamont said the tax system can be complicated, and he encouraged residents to seek help.

“That’s why it’s really important to take full advantage,” he said.

Free tax assistance is available throughout Connecticut. Residents can call 2-1-1 for information about nearby sites.

Free Tax Help Available in Danbury

Danbury residents can receive free tax preparation through DanburyVITA, a local nonprofit that provides IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services.

According to the organization, Danbury-VITA offers free federal and Connecticut state tax preparation for eligible individuals and families. Services are provided by trained volunteers and include electronic filing.

Danbury-VITA assists residents with federal and state returns, tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and support for families, older adults and first-time filers. Multilingual assistance may be available.

Eligibility guidelines required documents and appointment information are available at danbury-vita.org. Residents can also call 2-1-1 to locate free tax help sites in the region.

Sources: CT Insider; CT News Junkie; Danbury-VITA Inc.; Connecticut 2-1-1