This is a story about United Way of King County’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign that recently appeared in the Seattle Times.

Tax season is full of stressors: tracking down paperwork, parsing credits and deductions, and filing on time, to name just a few. Taxpayers often add another pain point to the list: shopping around to find the right filing solution.

“In reality, unless someone is a millionaire or billionaire with a team of tax accountants at their disposal, an individual’s tax bill or refund should be the same at the time of filing regardless of how the return is prepared that year,” says Ryan McFerran, senior financial stability program manager at United Way of King County. “The most effective way to maximize a refund or minimize a tax bill is to avoid paying tax preparation fees.”

As McFerran explains, those who use paid preparation services can usually expect to receive about 85% of their anticipated refund. Luckily, eligibility for free tax assistance is not nearly as limited as people think, enabling many taxpayers to keep 100% of their refund.

“At United Way of King County, we can serve single filers who earn up to $80,000 in gross income and non-single filers earning up to $96,000 annually. But there are many free-filing options out there,” McFerran says.

Washington now has its own one-stop resource for anyone in the state to learn about no-cost tax filing options: myfreetaxeswa.org.

“The site breaks down the different free-filing options, who qualifies for each one, and helps people find their closest free tax prep location, including United Way tax sites and sites run by other organizations,” says McFerran.

How King County residents can claim tax credits

Determining eligibility and applying tax credits to a person’s total refund is part of the standard tax filing process. “The average United Way tax client walks away from one of our tax sites expecting a refund of around $1,900, more than half of which comes from tax credits. For most clients, this is like getting a $1 an hour raise,” he says.

While there are some credits available for those who meet specific requirements (like students and older adults), the most common credits are the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC).

McFerran notes that generally, if an individual earned less than $69,000 for the 2025 tax year, they may qualify for EITC and WFTC. “Except for very high earners, folks with kids likely qualify for CTC. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for immigrant and mixed-status families due to eligibility restrictions.”

McFerran explains that EITC, specifically, is touted as one of the best anti-poverty tools in the U.S. for a reason — it can be hugely impactful for people who need more money to meet their basic needs. McFerran offers a simplified example:

“Someone with three or more kids who earned between $20,000 and $30,000 last year can expect to receive around $8,000 from EITC alone. In Washington, this means they are also most likely eligible for WFTC, adding an extra $1,330 to their refund. When combined with up to $2,200 per child through the CTC, their total refund could approach the household’s entire annual income.”

Since its inception in 2023, WFTC has become an impactful program for Washington state residents, delivering $208 million to nearly 300,000 households in 2025, or an average of $720 per household, says McFerran.

Tips for tax season

1. Don’t wait until the last minute to file.

“It’s especially important for King County residents this year because the IRS has extended the filing deadline to May 1 due to flooding in December. This extended deadline also includes residents of neighboring Pierce and Snohomish Counties, as well as a few other counties across the state,” McFerran says.

Despite the extension, many free filing services will close after April 15. This is in part because the extension was announced well into tax season preparations, and additional funding, staffing, and resources will be required to keep the tax sites open. Filing earlier in the season is recommended, as wait times are generally shorter in February and March.

2. File in person for added benefits.

McFerran expects many residents to have questions about whether they should file at all, particularly those impacted by immigration enforcement. “For those who choose to file with us, safety measures are in place, including site-specific U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement response plans designed to protect clients and their private information.”

“Many sites also offer Individual Taxpayer Identification Number services and language support, though availability varies by location,” McFerran says. “Clients may leave a tax site at any time if they feel unsafe and can return later. No questions asked.”

3. Find the option that works best for you.

Virtual tax services may provide a lower-risk alternative to in-person visits, and McFerran encourages clients to arrive prepared with all required documents to minimize the need for repeat visits.

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