Prepare + Prosper launches tax season with 24-hour free tax prep marathon to result in taxpayers claiming Earned Income Tax Credit and Minnesota Working Family Credit

Media Advisory/Photo-op

Contact:
Stacy Opitz, Prepare + Prosper, 651-262-2162, stacy@prepareandprosper.org

WHAT:
Prepare + Prosper is hosting its third annual “Taxathon” at the peak of tax season to provide free tax and financial services to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The two-day event is expected to result in more than $700,000 in “claimed” tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Working Family Credit. The event is part of a state-wide awareness campaign called “Claim It!” to promote free tax services, funded by Greater Twin Cities United Way.

WHEN:
Friday, February 9, 2018 (Day 1)

8:45 a.m. – 8:59 a.m.  – Taxathon Kick-Off Event – includes remarks from leaders from Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minnesota Department of Revenue, Internal Revenue Service, and Prepare + Prosper along with volunteers and tax filers and ends with a countdown to launch the Taxathon.

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday –– Taxathon volunteer preparers work for 12 hours

Saturday, February 10, 2018 (Day 2)
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Taxathon volunteer tax prep continues for 12 hours

WHERE:

Prepare + Prosper (located in the Court West Building)
2610 University Ave. W., Lower Level
St. Paul, MN 55114

MORE:
Interview opportunities with volunteer tax preparers, taxpayers, and leadership. Follow Prepare + Prosper (@PrepareProsper) and Greater Twin Cities United Way (@UnitedWayTC, #huMNkind) on Twitter using the hashtag #taxathon.

About Claim it! –Claim it!, managed by Prepare + Prosper and funded by Greater Twin Cities United Way, is a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation for hardworking Minnesotans. For more information, call 651-262-2160.

About Prepare + Prosper – Prepare + Prosper is a nonprofit focused on building brighter financial futures for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. It provides free tax preparation; financial services, products, and coaching; and works to advance policies and practices that directly benefit the people it serves. In 2016, 534 volunteers prepared taxes for 12,609 taxpayers who received $24.7 million in refunds; 984 of those taxpayers committed to saving $1.54 million of their refunds. For more information, visit www.prepareandprosper.org, Facebook, and Twitter.

About Greater Twin Cities United Way – With one in four people living in poverty in the nine-county region, Greater Twin Cities United Way fights to end poverty and support long-term wellbeing by providing access to food, shelter and healthcare; education; and jobs. When we support wellbeing, we ensure everyone can reach their potential and fully contribute to our community. We do this by bringing together the public, private and nonprofit sectors to solve the community’s most pressing needs. Through partnerships, public policy work, volunteer programs, our 2-1-1 hotline, grant making and nonprofit leadership support, we take a holistic, long-term approach to help people meet their potential. That’s because we know when more of us reach our potential, our whole community benefits. For more information, visit www.gtcuw.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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