Tax preparers sponsored and supported by the $27 billion State Employees' Credit Union helped almost 91,000 North Carolina taxpayers save roughly $11 million in tax preparation fees. Those taxpayers also claimed more than $123 million in refunds, the second largest credit union reported Friday.

SECU offered both free tax preparation help through the IRS sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, as well as tax preparation assistance to North Carolina residents who did not qualify for VITA.  

Taxpayers must earn less than $52,0000 per year to qualify for VITA, the credit union said.

SECU filed 80,000 returns through the VITA program, 12,000 more than last year, and 10,500 returns for residents who did not qualify for VITA.  Those taxpayers were asked for a fee a of $75 for the service, SECU reported.

The credit union also helped members claim $54 million in tax credits for which they were eligible, including $34.2 million in Earned Income Tax Credits, $17 million in Child Tax Credits and $2.5 million in Education Tax Credits, SECU added.

“I have used SECU's tax preparation service for the last few years and it has been a wonderful experience,” SECU member Brian Wilner said. “The staff at the Morganton – Carbon City Road branch makes me feel at ease and are very thorough in asking questions and going over the return with me to make sure I am getting all of the deductions and credits for which I am eligible. The credit union has saved me over $200 per year in preparation fees from what I used to pay. The service gets better each season and I plan to continue using SECU to prepare my taxes every year.”