Tacoma Goodwill, KeyBank offer free tax prep assistance

Tacoma Goodwill kicked off another tax season Saturday by offering free tax preparation assistance as part of the organization’s annual ‘KeyBank Super Refund Saturday.’

“Filing an income tax return can be challenging and intimidating,” said Mike Fait, KeyBank vice president and Community Reinvestment Act manager for Washington State, pointing out that the IRS estimated the average taxpayer spent 23 hours on last year’s tax return, more for businesses and those owning rental property. “Super Refund Saturday is KeyBank’s way to help taxpayers file their returns for free and qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, rather than leaving this money on the table. It’s part of KeyBank’s commitment to local communities.”

Last year, the Super Refund Saturday event completed 74 tax returns with total refunds reaching over $163,000.

The free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparation service is available at Goodwill’s Milgard Work Opportunity Center, located at 714 27th Street, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. until April 11. Visitors should bring W-2 forms, a Social Security card for each child and/or dependent, 1099 forms (interest, earnings as an independent contractor), unemployment form, proof of childcare payments, state-issued photo identification, last year’s tax return (if available), and bank account and routing number for direct deposit (if applicable).

More information is available online at tacomagoodwill.org/services/adults/free-tax-help.

Volunteer tax preparer Jamika Hilliard, right, goes over some numbers while preparing the taxes of Christina Young, left, of Tacoma, during the annual KeyBank Super Refund Saturday, hosted by Goodwill's VITA program at the Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma. Super Refund Saturday is a one-day event during which community volunteers and banking professionals provide free income tax preparation assistance to low- and moderate-income wage earners and help them identify their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit. (PHOTO BY DAN DELONG / COURTESY TACOMA GOODWILL)