The United Way VITA Collaborative, a partnership of United Way of Greenville County and United Way of Pickens County, prepared more than 4,054 tax returns during the 2011 tax season, bringing $4,513,051 back into Greenville and Pickens Counties.

Here's a statistical breakdown of some of what was accomplished between the two counties:

• 4,054 total tax returns prepared. This exceeds total goal of 3,000 returns.
• $608,100 saved in tax preparation fees.
• 7,000 volunteer hours of service valued at $150,000
• $1,399,320 claimed in Earned Income Tax Credits ($608,587 last year)
• 1/3 qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Up to $5,657 with three or more qualifying children 
• $155,636 claimed in Education credits ($41,971 last year)
• Education tax credits can help offset the costs of education. The American Opportunity (up to $2,500) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (up to $2,000) 
• $ 654,035 claimed in Child Tax Credits ($244,724  last year)
• Up to $1,000 for each qualifying child
• Average Annual Gross Income for each household served: $18,940 ($19,180 last year)
• $4,513,051 returned back into the community in tax refunds ($1,718,081 last year)
• Average refund: $1,361 ($1,394 last year)
• 50 percent of VITA Participants used direct deposit (44 percent last year)