Nonprofit offers free tax preparation and financial services during the 2018 tax season

St. Paul – January 18, 2018 — With tax season right around the corner, Prepare + Prosper (P+P) encourages low- and moderate-income individuals and families to save money this tax season by filing their taxes for free to get their maximum refund.

From January 20 until April 14, P+P’s IRS-certified volunteers work one-on-one with taxpayers to help them claim all the credits they’ve earned. The nonprofit also provides financial services to help people save some of their refund, get connected to financial coaching, and answer money-related questions.

“Tax time is a money moment for individuals and families with low and moderate incomes,” said Tracy Fischman, P+P executive director. “For 47 years, we’ve been providing high-quality, free tax preparation and financial services to help people maximize their tax refund’s impact on their financial future.”

Like last year, federal tax refunds will take longer for those receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) due to a law passed in 2016, the PATH Act. In mid-February, the IRS will begin processing refunds that include the EITC and ACTC, and federal refunds are expected to appear in bank accounts during the last week of February.

Additionally, tax reform passed at the end of 2017 will not affect 2017 or previous year taxes filed this season.

“There is a lot of information circulating regarding income taxes, tax reform, and tax refunds,” said Fischman. “Prepare + Prosper is here to answer questions and it’s important to remind taxpayers that free is the best way to file if you qualify, that no one can speed up your refunds, and that tax reform won’t affect your 2017 taxes.”

In 2017, 534 volunteers prepared taxes for 12,609 taxpayers who received more than $24.7 million in refunds and; 984 of those taxpayers committed to saving $1.5 million of their refunds.

Who is eligible for free tax preparation?
Individuals with an annual income $35,000 or less and families and self-employed taxpayers with an annual income $55,000 or less in 2017 are eligible to file their taxes for free.

Where are the free tax preparation sites located?

Appointment sites
Prepare + Prosper main office: 2610 University Avenue W., St. Paul
Creekside Community Center: 9801 Penn Ave. S., Bloomington
Minneapolis Urban League: 2100 Plymouth Avenue N., Minneapolis
ResourceWest, 1011 1^st St. S., Hopkins

Walk-in sites
Eastside Financial Center: 965 Payne Avenue, St. Paul
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center: 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul
East Side Neighborhood Services: 1700 2^nd St. NE, Minneapolis
Hope Community Center: 611 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis

When are tax sites open?
P+P tax sites are open at varying times until April 14. For a complete list of times or to make appointment, go to www.prepareandprosper.org or call 651-287-0187. P+P also offers audit assistance and the main office is open year-round.

What other services are offered at the tax site?
Taxpayers can open a savings account, purchase a U.S. savings, pull their credit score, and signup for P+P’s free financial coaching program. Taxpayers can also apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) at the P+P main office.

What languages are available?
Spanish and ASL interpreters are available at the P+P main office, and Hmong interpreters at Eastside Financial Center.

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.

###

Media Contact:
Stacy Opitz, Prepare + Prosper
stacy@prepareandprosper.org
651-262-2162
High-res photos of tax preparation services available upon reques