Volunteers needed for IRS-approved free tax preparation sites: Help working families keep more of what they earn
October 31, 2011
More than 100 volunteers are needed to prepare tax returns next year as part of United Way of Snohomish County’s free tax preparation campaign. All volunteers will receive free tax preparation training and be certified by the IRS. The tax sites will be located in Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville and Monroe. Volunteers who are multilingual are greatly needed.
“Volunteering with United Way, I work with so many people that constantly remind me why I’m happy to help,” said Mike Dunn, who prepared tax returns last year as a volunteer. “The point in life to give back—you can’t just take. By volunteering, I am giving back by helping people.”
United Way of Snohomish County will operate the Free Tax Preparation Campaign at six sites throughout Snohomish County from January 24 to April 14, 2012. The program is designed to help working families prepare their income tax forms, take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits while avoiding fees associated with for-profit tax preparers. At the sites, participants will also be able to sign up for certain public benefits and learn about opportunities they have to make the most of their tax refunds. The Free Tax Preparation Campaign provides working families with these asset building resources.
In 2011, 113 volunteers dedicated over 5,300 hours to United Way of Snohomish County's Free Tax Preparation Campaign. Volunteers prepared 2,231 tax returns, helped return over $4.1million in federal refunds back to the community, including $1.1 in Earned Income Tax Credits and saved customers an estimated $368,000 in tax preparation fees.
Over the past four years, United Way volunteers have prepared 6,400 tax returns worth $10.5 million in refunds for Snohomish County working families.
For more information and to volunteer, please visit uwsc.org and click on “Volunteer.”
Tax Site Locations
Click on map for directions.
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United Way is a community impact organization serving Snohomish County for more than 70 years. In addition to funding grants with a special focus on local health and human services, United Way of Snohomish County supports a number of initiatives, including: (1) an Education Initiative in partnerships with the cities of Marysville and Lake Stevens with programs in Early Learning, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Youth Developmental Assets; (2) a Financial Stability Initiative including Individual Development Accounts and a Free Tax Preparation campaign; (3) Community Engagement including Youth United; (4) supporting the local North Sound 211 Call Center in partnership with Volunteers of America Western Washington; and (5) an emerging initiative in Survival English.
To find out more about United Way of Snohomish County, including how you can find help, how to volunteer and how United Way serves our community, please visit our website at uwsc.org.