VITA – Free Tax Preparation

Tax Filing Information for 2023 Returns

Each year, free tax preparation programs run by United Ways across the U.S. bring millions of dollars back to local communities, largely thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Quick Jump Menu: 

• Key Dates
• EITC Awareness Day
• Two Ways to File Your Taxes for Free
• Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit Information
• Additional Information to Help You Navigate Tax Season
• Download our Free Tax Prep Overview Flyer

Free Tax Preparation key Dates

• January 26: EITC Awareness Day
• January 29: Tax filing season begins & GetYourRefund.org begins its free tax filing services.
• April 15: Tax filing deadline.

EITC Awareness Day – January 26th, 2024

What is Awareness Day?

Community organizations, elected officials, state and local governments, schools, employers, and other interested parties, partner in a national effort to increase awareness of refundable credits by shining a large spotlight on them from various media sources. We want to generate extensive media coverage on this specific day (or days in proximity) to increase awareness among potentially eligible taxpayers at the time when most of them are filing or getting ready to file their federal income tax returns. The IRS joins partners nationwide to launch the Awareness Day outreach campaign to ensure millions of workers get the credits they earned and deserve.

Why is Awareness Important?

IRS estimates four of five eligible taxpayers claim and get the EITC. Best of all, EITC combined with the CTC/ACTC/ODC is a financial boost for working people and your local economy. EITC and the CTC greatly reduce poverty for working families. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities asserts that in 2018 the Child Tax Credit and EITC together lifted more children above the poverty line, 5.5 million, than any other economic support program. The American Rescue Plan Act, by making a significant set of changes to the Child Tax Credit, will lift another 4.1 million children above the poverty line, cutting the number of children in poverty by more than 40 percent. (CBPP, MAY 24, 2021,  Chuck Marr, Kris Cox, Stephanie Hingtgen, and Kate Windham).

Two Ways to File Your Taxes for Free

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The VITA program provides individuals and families who earn less than $64,000 annually with free, reliable assistance in filing federal tax returns. Those individuals that have their taxes prepared through VITA and receive a tax refund use those dollars to cover child care expenses, pay bills, as well as to save for the future. Call 2-1-1 to make an appointment and find a free tax preparation site near you (dial 2-1-1 or 1-888-696-9211).

MyFreeTaxes.com

MyFreeTaxes is an easy way for people to file their taxes for free. United Way offers this free online tax preparation software to every household with a simple return. You can file your taxes completely online from the comfort of your
home. Visit myfreetaxes.com to get started.

Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

To claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you must have what qualifies as earned income and meet certain adjusted gross income (AGI) and credit limits for the current, previous and upcoming tax years.

Use the EITC tables to look up maximum credit amounts by tax year.

If you are unsure if you can claim the EITC, use the EITC Qualification Assistant.

Earned Income

Earned income includes all the taxable income and wages you get from working for someone else, yourself or from a business or farm you own.

Types of Earned Income

• Wages, salary or tips where federal income taxes are withheld on Form W-2, box 1
• Income from a job where your employer didn’t withhold tax (such as gig economy work) including:
  • Driving a car for booked rides or deliveries
  • Running errands or doing tasks
  • Selling goods online
  • Providing creative or professional services
  • Providing other temporary, on-demand or freelance work
• Money made from self-employment, including if you:
  • Own or operate a business or farm
  • Are a minister or member of a religious order
  • Are a statutory employee and have income
• Benefits from a union strike
• Certain disability benefits you got before you were the minimum retirement age
• Nontaxable Combat Pay (Form W-2, box 12 with code Q) If you claim nontaxable combat pay as earned income, it may increase or decrease the amount of your EITC. For more information, see Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide.

​Earned income does not include:

• Pay you got for work when you were an inmate in a penal institution
• Interest and dividends
• Pensions or annuities
• Social Security
• Unemployment benefits
• Alimony
• Child support

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE TAX SEASON

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) for the current tax year

Find the maximum Adjusted Gross Income, investment income and credit amounts for tax year 2023.

Investment income limit:
$10,300 or less

Maximum Credit Amounts:
The maximum amount of credit you can claim

• No qualifying children: $600
• 1 qualifying child: $3,995
• 2 qualifying children: $6,604
• 3 or more qualifying children: $7,430

Questions