The 212,000-member, $5.1 billion Bethpage Federal Credit Union in Bethpage, N.Y., said it is hosting the largest Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program on Long Island this year as tax season gets under way.

VITA programs are local, voluntarily organized programs which help lower income taxpayers get free tax preparation and assistance. From Jan. 30 through April 13 this year, 150 IRS-certified volunteers will be available to meet with eligible taxpayers with 2012 incomes of $49,000 and below to file tax returns, the credit union said.

“Bethpage is pleased to partner again with the IRS to offer Long Island's largest tax filing assistance program. This is an important free service that those eligible should take advantage of,” said Linda Armyn, senior vice president at Bethpage.

Bethpage, which has been providing the service for the past 10 years, reported that in 2012, it completed 1,517 VITA tax returns and helped secure IRS total refunds of nearly $1.5 million. 

“This year we're hoping to grow participation by 15% and have our hard-working volunteers complete 2,000 tax returns, helping even more Long Island families get their best possible tax refund,” said Rob Suarez, Bethpage's AVP of community development.