United Way, Impact Alabama Announce Free Tax Help For Working Families

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – You’ve probably started to get a few tax forms in the mail.  Before you file your taxes, think about saving the money you’ll get back — because it could pay off even more this year.

Monday, The United Way of Madison County and Impact Alabama announced the SaveFirst initiative. The project, in connection with UAHuntsville, provides free tax preparation services for local working families.

To qualify, a family must make less than $50,000/year with children in the home, or less than $20,000/year without children.

SaveFirst trains college, graduate, and law students to provide free tax preparation services and opportunities for savings and economic improvement to low-income, working families — especially targeting those eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit refund (EITC).

Families who use the free tax preparation service can also enter the SaveNow WinLater Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $10,000 cash grand prize by investing in savings bonds.  For every $50 eligible families invest in a federal savings bond, they will earn a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize, which will be given away at the end of tax season.

This is the seventh year for Impact Alabama’s SaveFirst initiative.  Last year, more than 450 trained students from more than 15 college campuses prepared tax returns for more than 5,100 families across the state.

If you meet the income criteria and would like to schedule a free tax preparation appointment, or participate in the SaveNow Win Later sweepstakes, call 1-888-99-TAX-AL.  The sweepstakes is only open to families who meet the income criteria as well.

Learn more about Impact Alabama.