HOW DO I FILE MY TAXES?

United Way offers several services to prepare your taxes for free instead of paying someone. On average, American families spend more than $300 each year on tax preparation and filing fees. When companies offer advanced loans to complete your taxes, you still are not getting the refund you are owed. Paying for tax preparation services can mean the difference between paying down a credit card, having money in an emergency savings account or getting a car repaired.

Before you spend several hundred dollars on a fee-based service, connect with one of United Way’s Free Tax Prep sites to access the service that meets your needs.

1. MyFreeTaxes.com is a free self-filing tool available through United Way Worldwide. You complete your return on your own at your own pace. MyFreeTaxes uses TaxSlayer software, a tax service with over 50 years of experience in the industry. The software guides you through the return and there’s additional help available to answer common questions.

2. Self-prep at Free Tax Prep sites is a self-filing tool but with support and assistance available on-site. This means you prepare and file your own basic state and federal tax forms using TaxSlayer web-based tax software with help from a tax coach, who is an IRS-certified volunteer. This is a good blend of traditional Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services with a do-it-yourself approach.

3. Traditional, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites offer free tax return preparation either in-person or drop-off and are operated by experienced IRS-certified volunteers to help taxpayers complete basic state and federal tax returns.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Low-to-moderate-income taxpayers, those on fixed incomes, people with disabilities and those with limited English language abilities are eligible for free tax preparation and filing. United Way of Greater Cincinnati supports more than 30 locations.