Northwestern Mutual employees are donating their time and expertise this tax season to help lower-income Milwaukee residents complete their taxes and file them electronically.
In offering assistance, Northwestern Mutual is working with the Social Development Commission under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a national program that has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Along with trained VITA volunteers, Northwestern Mutual employees assist residents in need at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center in the city’s Muskego Way neighborhood.
The philanthropic push is fueled by Northwestern Mutual’s engagement with “Building Neighborhood Capacity,” an initiative to advance the missions of nonprofits contributing to neighborhood development in Milwaukee’s MetCalfe Park, Amani and Muskego Way neighborhoods.
“We’re connecting local residents with our employees to simplify tax season and build relationships in the community we serve,” said John Kordsmeier, president of Northwestern Mutual Foundation.
Program volunteers are onsite at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center each Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through April 11.
Taxpayers of households that earn less than $56,000 annually are eligible to receive free tax guidance.
Throughout its 12 years of providing assistance with tax preparation, VITA has helped distribute more than $100 million in refunds and credits to taxpayers. Last year, the program completed more than 15,000 tax returns.
