Submitted by United Way King County
Maria, a single mother of two making $30,000 a year, has to regularly choose between education, car repair, or dental care. But during the last tax season, she received a $3,000 refund, secured by United Way’s Free Tax Prep volunteers at no cost to her. This meant she didn’t have to choose between some of her basic needs.
Taxes can be a stressful subject for many people. Paid preparers charge upwards of $300 for a tax return, and often don’t tell clients about certain credits and saving opportunities. The Free Tax Preparation Campaign trains volunteers to do the opposite for low- and moderate-income filers. With no prior experience needed except our two-day training, our tax volunteers ensure clients obtain the refunds they’re eligible for. Each volunteer on average, brings $30,000 back to the community. And Intake and Benefit volunteers inform clients of other savings opportunities, such as food and housing assistance.
Last year, we served 22,700 people! And brought back a total of $30.5 million to the community!
This year, we’re aiming for 23,000 tax returns filed. To do this, we’re in the process of recruiting a team of volunteers for our 30 sites located around King County. So join our talented team, receive training that boosts your skills, and help reach the people who need it most. No experience needed! We train volunteers to either file taxes or help connect clients to public programs.
Find a Free Tax Prep location near you and get involved click here.
