Montgomery County United Way offers safe free income tax preparation for local residents

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- This year thanks to a grant from Entergy, MCUW is again working with community partners to promote SAFE, FREE Income Tax Preparation assistance for residents who have an annual income of less than $50,000 or who are low to moderate income and over 60.

To make sure residents have access to all the safe, free tax assistance services that are available in our county, MCUW is partnering with Solutions for Communities VITA, (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance), the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation, the IRS and Texas 2-1-1. At VITA sites across the county, trained, IRS approved volunteers offer free services to help low- to moderate-income taxpayers keep more discretionary income for everyday essentials, such as food, housing and health care, by assisting with tax services and ensuring they receive applicable tax credits and deductions including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC puts money back in people’s pockets by allowing low-income individuals or families the opportunity to earn back income that was deducted for federal taxes. The IRS estimates that nationally approximately over a quarter of all of tax payers do not claim the credit they deserve.

This project is part of MCUW’s strategy to address its # 1 Priority, Reducing Poverty. To reduce poverty and financial instability, MCUW works with community partners to improve people’s capacity to increase their income, hang onto more of their hard-earned money and grow their assets. Already this year, Solution for Communities VITA and AARP TaxAid together have helped over hundreds of individuals and families file free tax returns allowing residents to keep more of their income and to use it in ways that benefit not only their households but Montgomery County as a whole.

To find the nearest Free Tax Assistance location in your area Dial 2-1-1 free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, multilingual representatives are available. You can also find locations at: www.mcuw.org. Be Part of the Solution with Montgomery County United Way where we improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of community.