JEDI’s VITA/TCE Program Celebrates 20 Years of Service

Founding VITA Site Coordinator Paj Kane’s Legacy

Mt. Shasta, CA – Twenty years ago Paj Kane saw a need in our community and acted to be part of the solution. She wanted to help people capture the $2 million in earned income tax credit that was being left on the table. Reports showed that people who received this credit were able to navigate tough financial situations and climb up the economic ladder towards more success. Paj is the founding Site Coordinator for VITA at JEDI, a free tax preparation service for low- and moderate-income households. VITA at JEDI has been assisting taxpayers to capture tax benefits, such as earned income, child tax credits, and education credits for nearly two decades. As a result of Paj’s hard work and care for this community, VITA at JEDI has grown to be a nationally recognized program and trusted community resource.

VITA, which stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is a program of the IRS. Started in 1971, the program is offered by community organizations across the United States to assist taxpayers to file their returns. Since its founding, alleviating poverty by claiming tax credits and serving individuals with limited English proficiency to file returns are core goals of the program. In recent years, assisting taxpayers who file their returns electronically has also become an important aspect of the program. Each year the IRS provides training and support for VITA volunteers and partner organizations on tax law and tax law changes so that the VITA program provides the highest level of service to communities. Volunteers use software provided by the IRS and follow strict ethical and scope requirements to protect clients served through the program.

Tax credits go unclaimed by taxpayers every year in Siskiyou County; VITA at JEDI’s goal is to help people claim the credits they are eligible for and get their maximum refunds. Coming up with the phrase ‘take the Ax out of Tax’ over her twenty years of service, Paj has exemplified her motto. Taking time to explain tax returns to her clients, consistently going above and beyond to provide stellar service, and setting people up for success for the next tax year, Paj has become synonymous with VITA at JEDI. In 2023, Paj officially retired from her Site Coordinator role with the program, but do not worry, she remains on as a volunteer. In acknowledgement of her dedicated service, and in unending gratitude, JEDI presented Paj with her own Tax Ax at a volunteer appreciation luncheon. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can “take the ax out of tax” for so many people for so many years. I am so honored to have worked with the VITA volunteers that have done just this!” - Paj Kane

Numerous clients have written, called, and stopped in to express their gratitude for Paj and the VITA program, all indicating the quality of assistance Paj has provided them with over the years. Thanks to the quality of work Paj has spearheaded with the program, VITA at JEDI was selected to be one of just three VITA programs in the United States to participate in a pilot Rural Partner Action Day (RPAD) event series. Iin June VITA at JEDI was one of three organizations, from a nomination pool of national partner organizations, to receive recognition in the Community Outreach Collaborator category by the IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) office.

“[I] Just want to express my gratitude to Paj Kane for giving me special attention on my tax returns for the past ten years or more. She personally worked on my return... [and] saved me a ton of money that I had been paying for tax preparation.” says a long-time VITA client.

Incoming VITA Site Coordinator Patricia Lord says “It has been so inspiring to learn from Paj and see the impact she has on this community. She has modeled such an admirable level of service, I know that I am, and I believe all of the VITA volunteers and clients are truly grateful for her. This program would not be the same without the personal touch that she added.”

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Offered since 2005, the VITA/TCE program at JEDI is one of the many financial and economic development programs run by JEDI. JEDI is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase the economic well-being of people and communities through business development and local wealth creation. Since it was first offered at JEDI, over 7000 tax returns have been prepared by volunteers. Individuals interested in serving their community, meeting new people, making deeper connections to Siskiyou, and increasing tax access and equity should contact JEDI to learn more. A simple volunteer interest form is available at https://www.vitajedi.org/volunteers. More information about the program locally can be found at https://www.vitajedi.org/, including information on how to access services, success stories, and other relevant tax resources.