IRS Honors Cherokee Nation For Its VITA Program

NewsOn6.com

TAHLEQUAH, OK -- The Internal Revenue Service has recognized the Cherokee Nation for its 30 years of volunteer income tax preparation, provided free to residents within the tribe's jurisdiction.

In a news release from the Cherokee Nation, for the past 30 years, the Cherokee Nation has partnered with the IRS to coordinate a localized Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

The VITA program trains and certifies Cherokee Nation volunteers to do state and federal income tax preparation using IRS training and testing materials.

"It's been our honor to provide these services for the past 30 years," said Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. "The VITA program is a very cost-effective way for us to help our citizens. It means citizens can become more self-reliant and less dependent upon other social services and it means they get the refunds they're entitled to."

Cora Lathrop, VITA program coordinator for Cherokee Nation, said the tribe's certified volunteers assisted more than 2,000 area residents with tax preparation in the 2010 tax season.