Free Tax Prep Campaign | United Way of King County

Tax credits and refunds can put people on a path to financial stability, but the cost of professional tax services to figure it all out can be a barrier.

Before the pandemic, Black, Indigenous, Latino and other people of color throughout King County experienced poverty at disproportionately higher rates. Historic and current systemic racism—redlining and restrictive covenants, massive racial pay gaps—has created barriers to building and maintaining wealth. The COVID-19 crisis has only amplified these inequities.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most powerful anti-poverty tools available. Yet, one in five eligible workers do not claim their EITC—that’s money left on the table. Why? When tax time comes around, thousands of hard‐working people in King County face race, age, income, language or disability barriers when trying to access tax support. The Free Tax Preparation Campaign combats these barriers.

How It Works

Each year, IRS‐certified volunteers offer free tax services to help people keep more of what they’ve earned. Services are offered in multiple languages to maximize accessibility.

Elderly person with short curly hair fills out a tax form at a tax help site.

1. People sign up for free tax help and are informed of what documents they’ll need. During the pandemic, services are largely online, though a few in-person locations are available to increase accessibility.

Two people sit at a tax volunteer holds up a piece of paper while explaining the document to the other person.

2. IRS-certified volunteer tax specialists work with people to identify all the credits and refunds they’re eligible for, then help them file their tax returns.

A tax volunteer poses with a person who holds up a tax document. both are smiling and looking at the camera.

3. Because returns are filed electronically, people get their returns quickly.

Volunteers are also available to help people connect to public benefits, financial counseling and other services.

Success to Date

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Free Tax Preparation Campaign to adapt and move 100% online in 2020, in 2022 (tax year 2021), we explored a hybrid approach to help over 6,000 people file their taxes.

6,350+

tax returns filed

$11M+

in tax refunds for clients

$2M

in earned income tax

$3M

in child tax credit