Preparing your taxes can be difficult, and you could be leaving money on the table if you’re eligible for certain state and federal programs. According to the IRS, nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim the Earned Income Tax credit, which averaged $2,541 in 2022. For tax year 2023, the EITC is worth up to $7,430 for a family with three or more children. In Massachusetts, eligible taxpayers are allowed a refund equal 40% of the amount of the earned income credit claimed on their federal individual income tax returns.
Tax credits can create a windfall at tax time. With some planning, you can make the most of this income—including paying utilities, paying down debt, and or start or build savings.
Free Taxes F.A.Q.
At United Way, we are committed to providing free tax preparation services to families across our region, including a free online service – myfreetaxes.com with access to volunteers who assist over the phone.
Am I eligible for free taxes and where do I start?
The eligibility criteria for free tax preparation services can vary depending on the program or service being used.
Online
- United Way’s myfreetaxes.com has no income limit and offers IRS-certified call support throughout the process. Best of all, it will make a connection to a volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) site if in-person assistance is needed.
- Another online option is GetYourRefund – a nonprofit service provided by Code for America in partnership with IRS-certified VITA sites nationally. GetYourRefund helps people file their taxes with the assistance they need to do it right. This service is free for families earning under $66,000 annually, available in English and Spanish, and accessible through your phone, tablet, or computer.
In Person
- If you reside in Boston, the Boston Tax Help Coalition also offers free tax preparation services in 9 languages for those who worked in 2022 and earned $60,000 or less. You can learn more about that here.
- For in-person assistance find more information here or contact Just-a-Start, a local organization that offers free tax-prep services.
What criteria might affect my eligibility?
You may not be eligible for free taxes if you require a complicated return, such as a Complicated Schedule D for capital gains or losses, do not have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or need other forms completed before tax filing. For more information on what a VITA tax preparer can and cannot prepare and what documents are needed, please visit this IRS page. We recommend contacting your interested site to confirm eligibility.
Can I use free tax prep services if I'm self-employed?
Yes! United Way is proud to introduce a new way for small business owners to save on taxes and maximize profit by filing their taxes for free through MyFreeTaxes!
Available now at myfreetaxes.com/selfemployed, the MyFreeTaxes Self-Employed Tax Guides equip entrepreneurs with the information they need to prepare for tax season, file their taxes, and maximize their refunds using free online software.
United Way created three versions of the MyFreeTaxes Self-Employed Tax Guides to meet the specific needs of general small business owners, gig economy entrepreneurs, and home-based childcare businesses. All the guides are available in PDF and video formats, in English and Spanish.
This new resource will help ensure all entrepreneurs have access to safe, free, and accurate tax filing services: myfreetaxes.com/selfemployed
What do I need to file my taxes for free?
It’s important to have all the correct documents for filing taxes at a VITA site or online. Find a list of what you will need for filing taxes here.
What is the EITC and do I qualify?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. The EITC is designed to provide financial assistance to workers who have earned income but may not earn enough to support themselves or their families.
You may be eligible for the EITC if you are:
- Have worked and earned income under $63,398
- Have investment income below $11,000 in the tax year 2023
- Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions)
- Be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien all year
- Not file Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income
- Meet certain rules if you are separated from your spouse and not filing a joint tax return
What is the CTC and do I qualify?
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a federal tax credit that provides financial assistance to eligible taxpayers with qualifying children. The credit is designed to help families with the cost of raising children and can be worth up to $2,000 per child, depending on the child's age and other factors.
You may be eligible for the CTC if:
Your child/children are between the ages of 0 to 17 (children must have a Social Security number to be eligible)
- $3,600 per child ages 0–5
- $3,000 per child ages 6–17
What is Vita and how can it help me?
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is an initiative of the IRS that offers free tax preparation services to eligible individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. United Way provides funding, resources, and volunteer support to local VITA programs, which helps to increase access to free tax preparation services for eligible taxpayers.
VITA sites are staffed by volunteers who are trained and certified by the IRS to provide free basic income tax return preparation and e-filing services. By supporting the VITA program, we are ensuring that eligible taxpayers in our community have access to free, high-quality tax preparation services and can claim the credits and deductions they are entitled to. This can help to increase financial stability for families and individuals and support the economic well-being of our communities.
Find your local VITA site here.