Free tax workshops open around county SNOHOMISH COUNTY - United Way of Snohomish County is encouraging residents to check out free tax workshops in the area to collect federal income credits they may not know about.
Everett Community College and United Way are offering the free tax workshops. Tax returns are due Tuesday, April 17 this year. Traditional tax day, April 15, falls on a Sunday, and April 16 is a holiday in the District of Columbia.
The United Way opened its tax workshops Tuesday, Jan. 24. The service is meant for people earning less than $50,000 who probably can’t afford a professional tax preparation.
The United Way is running three workshop sites in Everett and also has sites in Marysville, Lynnwood and Monroe.
The sites in Everett are at the Goodwill South Everett Job Training and Education Center, 228 SW Everett Mall Way; North Middle School at 2514 Rainier Avenue and the Foursquare Church at the Children’s Village Center at 14 E Casino Road, Suite D. The Goodwill and North Middle sites are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Casino Road site is open Tuesday through Friday each week with varying hours.
In Monroe, the tax workshop is held at Frank Wagner Elementary, 115 Dickinson Road, Tuesdays 5 to 8 p.m., Thursdays 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
No appointments are necessary.
Taxpayers who came to a free workshop in the past found they got an average refund of $2,189, United Way of Snohomish County spokesman Neil Parekh said. More than 80 percent of the people got a refund.
The largest refund last year was a whopping $18,000 for one big family, Parekh said. The family got child tax credits that “they weren’t even aware of,” he said.
“A lot of people get an ‘aha’ moment on their credits,” which helps them understand what refund credits are available, Parekh said.
“Tax refunds can pay for clothing and school supplies,” Parekh said.
For details on what to bring with you, go online to www.uwsc.org/freetaxpreparationcampaign.php or call United Way’s financial stability manager Lark Kesterke at 425-374-5506.
EvCC tax workshops
EvCC’s tax workshop is open by appointment 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays at EvCC’s Rainier Hall, room 104. Rainier Hall is at the corner of Eighth Street and Wetmore Avenue.
The workshops attracted people aged 16 to 101 last year, EvCC workshop coordinator Laura Little said.
IRS-certified tax preparers at the site will handle long-form and short-form residential tax forms, Little said. They’ll handle overdue tax returns, too.
The average person picks up numerous tidbits as preparers work through the documents. “By the time you leave us, your return has been explained to you two or three times,” Little said.
To make an appointment or for more information, contact Laura Little at llittle@everettcc.edu or 425-388-9597.
To participate in an EvCC tax preparation appointment, you must bring:
• Valid picture ID and taxpayer identification number.
• Taxpayers will be asked for their cards showing Social Security numbers, Individual Taxpayer Identification or adoption Individual Taxpayer Identification.
• Copy of last year’s income tax returns
• W-2 forms from each employer
• Unemployment compensation statements
• SSA-1099 form if Social Security benefits were received
• All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-misc., etc) showing interest and/or dividends as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets
• 1099R forms if you received a pension or annuity
• All forms indicating federal income tax paid
• Child care provider information (name, employer ID, Social Security number)
• All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions
• Social Security numbers for all dependents
• Form 8832 or copy of divorce degree for non-custodial parent claiming child
