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Make Your VITA Appointment TODAY!

You Earned It. Weʼll Help You Keep It.

Don’t take out loans or pay for expensive tax prep services – VITA provides IRS-trained and certified volunteers to complete federal and state tax returns free-of-charge for qualified individuals. Kingsley House is one of several certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in your community and here to help you get the most out of your tax return.  Get your taxes done by a Kingsley House VITA expert and maximize your refund!

New this year – you must bring your Letter 6419: 2021 advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) to your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions?

VITA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Kingsley House is proud once again to join the ranks of other Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs who provide free tax preparation to individuals in our families and the broader community. VITA sites provide an invaluable service with free tax return preparation/filing and assistance claiming available tax credits designed to move individuals from poverty towards financial security.


What You Need to Know:

  • No prior tax preparation nor business/accounting experience is necessary
  • Free IRS Certification Training is provided; all taxes are required to be quality reviewed by two preparers before submission to avoid errors
  • This opportunity is a short term commitment (tax season dates are January 18 – April 18) with flexible hours

The Kingsley House VITA program offers you several benefits as a volunteer such as:

  • Free training to confidently offer quality service and gain other marketable skills to expand your résumé
  • Participation in a rewarding community service while meeting new people, improving your leadership abilities and improving your technological proficiency
  • A recognition certificate at the end of tax season
  • An invitation to attend the Volunteer Recognition Event

Volunteers can get involved in one of three ways:

  • Tax Preparers receive training and IRS certification, prepare simple tax returns and discuss the tax return with the taxpayer after the quality review process is complete.
  • Intake Specialists greet and screen all taxpayers to ensure they have the necessary information and documentation required to complete tax returns. They also explain the VITA intake packet to each taxpayer and assist them in completing forms.
  • Interpreters provide free interpretation and translation services to customers who are not fluent in English, or who may need other assistance.

Click here if you would like to volunteer. Information about training will be forwarded to you within the next two weeks.

VOLUNTEER FAQS

What is the time commitment? Volunteers are required to attend one mandatory 4-hour training session. Training sessions will be held on December 16, 2021, from 10am until 2pm and January 6, 2022 from 10am until 2pm. A minimum of 4 shifts per month (2-3 hours/shift) will be asked of volunteers during the tax season (January 18, 2022 – April 18, 2022)

What if I can’t make the training session? Because all filers are required by the IRS to complete the training for certification, you will not be able to volunteer as a tax preparer. However, Intake Specialists/Program Support volunteers can review the required information and the Code of Conduct to test on their own time.

What if I don’t have an accounting or business background OR have no experience filing tax returns? No worries! All the necessary training required by the federal government is provided to you. You are required to pass the certification exam to assist our site and all files receive multiple reviews before any button is pushed.

If I am a Kingsley House employee, can I volunteer during the day? We will work with supervisors to seek approval for staff to volunteer during the day, based on departmental staffing situations. We may also need assistance at a site during our evening hours.

Feel free to email the KH VITA Coordinator at mildred.jones@kingsleyhouse.org with questions or for more information.

Togther! Stronger! Better!

Wednesday November 10th!
9:30 AM – 2:15 PM
GAYLE & TOM BENSON COMMUNITY CENTER  

Wednesday’s Interactive Workshops and Panels are sponsored by DePaul Community Health Centers. Topics include Supports to Remove Barriers to Employment, Resources for Formerly Incarcerated, Employment Trends, a Town Hall with WDSU TV Anchor Gina Swanson WDSU and a Resource Fair!  To register and learn more, visit https://www.kingsleyhouse.org/togetherstrongerbetter/

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Announcing Change in Our Name

Since our inception in 1896, Kingsley House has dedicated time and passion to strengthening our community across generations through life-transforming nationally-accredited and state-certified programs and services. As we move into our organization’s 125th anniversary year, we are proud to announce that Kingsley House will be changing our name to one that reflects our values and vision for the children, families, and community we serve.

Our board and leadership team are honored by the support we have received in this process, and we look forward to continuing to serve our children, families, and community for the next 125 years under our new name, to be announced later this year.

Take a Chance to Win an Ultimate Staycation or Destin Beach Getaway!


Official Rules

  • Ultimate Staycation

    $40.00 per entry

    Only 500 tickets available – Value of prize: $4,000.00

    Enjoy an elegant escape with a 3-night stay at Windsor Court Hotel with premium accommodations, plus

    Cheer on our home team with 4 Bunker Club-level tickets to enjoy a Saints home game*

    A haven for the discriminating traveler, Windsor Court Hotel is the crown jewel of New Orleans, providing unmatched elegance and luxury with superior service and grace.

    In 2018, the 23-story landmark hotel underwent a $15 million renovation that included an impressive modern refresh of all guestrooms and the addition of Waterman Poolside Bar, the hotel’s newest on-site dining option, exclusively open to hotel and spa guests.

    *Some restrictions may apply depending on release of Saints home schedule
  • Destin Beach Getaway

    $20.00 per entry

    Only 500 tickets available – Value of prize: $1,800.00

    Take pleasure in a 2-night escape at the Henderson Park Inn

    Enjoy the perfect intersection of modern luxury and coastal charm at Henderson Park Inn, an all-inclusive, adults-only Destin beach hotel and long-time favorite romantic getaway. Tucked away on the peaceful shores of the Emerald Coast and nestled along Henderson Beach State Park’s mile of undisturbed beach, Henderson Park Inn allows its guests to indulge in all the premier amenities of a true Destin, Florida beach vacation.

100% of all donations will benefit the work of Kingsley House

Official Rules:

Entry

  • Raffle is open only to legal US residents 21 years or older.
  • A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold for each raffle prize.
  • Employees of Kingsley House and their immediate family are not eligible to participate in the raffle.
  • The raffle entry form must be filled out completely and submitted with payment.
  • Purchases of entries will be facilitated online through Kingsley House website at https://www.kingsleyhouse.org/ultimate-raffle/ .
  • Credit card, cash and checks are accepted. Prize will not be awarded, and will be forfeited, if the ticket was issued in exchange for a check returned for “insufficient funds” or for a credit card charge deemed “declined,” “invalid,” or “stolen.”
  • There will be no discounted tickets.
  • There is no limit to the number of tickets you may purchase; as long as there are tickets to be sold.

Winner

  • The raffle winners will be determined by random drawing on April 30, 2021, at or about 12:00pm (noon), at the Kingsley House Friendraiser.
  • We will stop selling tickets online at 11:30am on April 30, 2021.
  • Winner need not be present to win.
  • Winner will be notified via email, phone, or in person, by the end of day on April 30, 2021.
  • Winner must claim prize within 30 days of the event: on or before May 31, 2021, or will forfeit right to claim prize.
  • Entry in the raffle constitutes permission to use winner’s name and likeness in promotional activity conducted by Kingsley House.
  • No cash or prize substitutions or exchanges will be made. Taxes required on any prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winner.
  • The retail value for the prize has been determined by the donor and has not been independently appraised by Kingsley House.

The raffle is a benefit event for Kingsley House, 501(c)3 organization. Raffle tickets purchases are not tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Code.

Kingsley House assumes no liability. We also reserve the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney fees) against any claims made toward us, should the situation arise. All decisions related to interpretation/enforcement of these rules and regulations shall be made by Kingsley House and will be final.

Raffle shall abide by all charitable raffle laws of the State of Louisiana and the government of the United States of America. Void where prohibited by law.

License number: LA State: E0010661; City of New Orleans Permit: 261114

BY ENTERING KINGSLEY HOUSE’S RAFFLE, EACH ENTRANT RELEASES KINGSLEY HOUSE, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEY’S FEES) CAUSED BY PARTICIPATING IN THE RAFFLE OR WINNING ANY PRIZE OR RESULTING FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE, AND EACH WINNER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD KINGSLEY HOUSE HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE RAFFLE OR THE WINNER’S ACCEPTANCE OR USE OF ANY PRIZE.

A RAFFLE ENTRANT’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM AGAINST KINGSLEY HOUSE ARISING OUT OF THE SALE OF TICKETS OR THE CONDUCT OF THE RAFFLE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE RETURN OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID FOR THEIR TICKET(S). IN NO EVENT SHALL KINGSLEY HOUSE, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR ANY LOSS OR INJURIES TO EARNINGS, PROFITS OR GOODWILL, OR FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE RAFFLE OR THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION (PURSUANT TO ITS EXPEDITED PROCEDURES) UNDER ITS COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES AND CONDUCTED IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. JUDGMENT ON THE AWARD RENDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF.

Cancellation/Termination of Raffle: By purchasing a Ticket and choosing to participate in the Raffle, each Raffle participant acknowledges and agrees that Kingsley House has the right, in its sole discretion, to elect not to proceed with the Raffle for any reason whatsoever or for no reason, and in such event, a participant’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to receive a refund of the full price paid by such participant for each Ticket purchased, without interest.

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