Thurston County taxpayers have more options for free tax preparation this year. Thurston County Asset Building Coalition, United Way of Thurston County, and Thurston County Food Bank have teamed up to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) at the food bank every Wednesday afternoon, starting February 1st.
The Thurston County Food bank location adds an additional location for free tax preparation in Thurston County, bringing the total number of free tax sites to six including the five locations staffed by AARP’s Tax Aide. Each site is staffed by volunteer income tax preparers who have passed IRS training and competency tests.
Trained volunteers will prepare tax returns completely free of charge in order to help those with low-income and simple returns save money and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, worth over $5,000 for some families. Qualifications for Earned Income Tax Credit include having earned income, a qualifying individual (typically a child), and income below the threshold for their particular filing status and family size. Taxpayers who have earned income, but do not have a qualifying individual can still receive earned income tax credit if they are between the ages of 25 and 65 and below the income threshold for the credit.
FOOD BANK tax hours (220 Thurston Ave. NE Olympia):
Free tax site locations include Thurston County Food Bank, Tumwater Timberland Library, Lacey Timberland Library, Panorama City Retirement Center, Yelm Senior Center and more. For a complete list of free tax sites, days, times and locations dial 211 and ask about free tax preparation or visit www.thurstonabc.org!