For many people in our community, paying for a tax preparer is not an option. Though without this kind of help they may be missing out on refund dollars that can make a difference in their ability to pay their bills and stay financially afloat. Your support of United Way helps to provide Free Tax Prep services and other financial literacy resources each year to thousands of your neighbors.
SAVE MONEY. MAXIMIZE YOUR REFUND.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Free Tax Prep Service delivery is being adjusted due to COVID to make tax preparation safe for volunteers and the public.
Tax prep will be by appointment only with minimal face to face interaction this year. Masks will always be required when interacting with the volunteers.
For information on how to make an appointment, taxpayers are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221 (Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m and 5:30 p.m.) or book an appointment online here.
For DIY free tax prep options in both English and Spanish, click here.
The deadline to submit taxes is April 18th.
Click here for a list of documents to bring.
Taxes Prepared FOR THE 2020 TAX YEAR
(Service was limited last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)
SAVED
1,147 Anchorage residents saved an estimated
$230,000 in tax prep fees
Delivered
Over $1.8 Million in tax refunds delivered
EITC
Earned Income Tax Credits claimed: $280,334
For some, the assistance they receive makes a huge impact. Check out their stories below!
A Life-Changing Experience!
“A tenant in one of our rental units and a single father of three had an accident that left him with a temporary head injury. While recovering, he was a victim of a scam that took the funds he had intended to use to supplement his income throughout the year. Without his income he became behind on bills and could not see a way to ever pay off debt. A financial counselor in our organization recommended he take his taxes to one of the Anchorage free tax prep sites. It seemed his refund should cover his outstanding debt while providing free tax service rather than the expensive tax preparation and high cost loan he had received in the past. It seemed to be a great solution, and when we followed up a few weeks later – his refund did come in within 10 days and it was enough to pay off his debt and leave him with a little extra to spread throughout the year!”
Rebuilding in Alaska.
A single man who had just moved to Alaska from the lower 48 to re-establish himself, as he had lost everything in the economic downturn a few years ago (home, job and all possessions as he could not pay the storage fees). A family member in Alaska is helping him get back on his feet. He attended the Financial Fitness Fair, said “it was a great resource for him and he was excited about working with the agencies that were there to help him rebuild his credit and eventually purchase his own home again”.
