Tax Refunds and Credits

Get Thousands of Dollars Back with Tax Credits

Taxes are more than just a legal obligation. They are a chance at financial freedom! By claiming tax credits, you could receive thousands of dollars in refunds. But to access these credits, you need to file your taxes.

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Tax credits you may be eligible for include:

Child Tax Credit: up to $2,000 per child

Earned Income Tax Credit: up to $6,935

California Earned Income Tax Credit: up to $3,417

Young Child Tax Credit: up to $1,083

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File Your Taxes for Free

Claiming these credits is simple: File your taxes!  Get started today by filing your taxes for free through our website, MyFreeTaxes.org.

United Way is committed to helping people file their taxes for free in a safe and confidential manner. We do this by offering three different free filing options including:

In-person help at a VITA site

• Get help filing your taxes with a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteer. These volunteers are certified and trained by the IRS.  At many of our VITA sites, you can get help from a tax preparer in person. At other sites, you'll drop off your documents at a designated site, and the volunteer will prepare your tax return without you having to wait for it to be completed.Sometimes VITA sites will offer services in languages other than English.
• A VITA site can also help you apply for an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)—a process that must happen alongside your tax return.

Virtual help 

• Get help filing your taxes with a VITA volunteer—without having to go anywhere. These volunteers are certified and trained by the IRS. The virtual option is a great option for those that don’t live near a VITA site.  Rather than working with the volunteer in person, you will work with them by phone and email.

Self-filing with safe, no-cost software

• Our free self-filing software is available to anyone, regardless of income.  Our site provides step-by-step tutorials that help make the process less complicated and stressful.

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Ready to Get Started?

Step 1: Plan ahead!  Start gathering all of the necessary documents needed for filing at the beginning of the year.  We recommend starting in January. 

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Step 2: Look at your options.  Figure out which filing method works best for you by visiting MyFreeTaxes.org and looking at locations and eligibility.

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Step 3: Start the process early.  If you are interested in getting in-person help, we recommend making an appointment early in the tax season (February is ideal).  Many of our VITA sites fill up by the middle of March, so planning ahead will allow you to get an appointment at the VITA site of your choice.

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Step 4: Finalize your filing plans.  Choose your filing method and make sure you are prepared.  Remember, filing early means you get your refund earlier!

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