Free Tax Preparation/EITC Campaigns

Tax Preparation For Individuals

The United Way of King County leads the SKC ABC's EITC/free tax preparation campaign. In 2011, the United Way prepared 13,320 tax returns, returning $19.1 million in refunds, including over $6 million in EITC. They run 18 tax prep sites, in addition to conducting one day events for hard-to-reach populations and participation in Financial Fitness Day.

The tax campaign integrates a range of public benefits and asset building services into their tax site outreach to customers. Referrals were offered to clients to financial services through Bank on Seattle-King County, job training, education, homeownership help, and to public benefits, such as childcare, food and utility assistance, and health insurance. Customers were also offered a chance to buy savings bonds.

For more information, visit www.uwkc.org/taxhelp.

Tax Preparation For Small Businesses

StartZone at Highline Community College offered workshops to help low-income entrepreneurs learn how to file Schedule C returns. Both StartZone and UWKC also offered low-income, self-employed individuals free tax prepration at their sites and events during the 2011 season.

For more information, visit Startzone.