United Way opens free tax preparation site in Marysville Jan. 21

MARYSVILLE — United Way of Snohomish County is once again offering free tax preparation at Goodwill's Marysville Job Training and Education Center, starting Tuesday, Jan. 21.

MARYSVILLE — United Way of Snohomish County is once again offering free tax preparation at Goodwill’s Marysville Job Training and Education Center, starting Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Volunteer tax preparers will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Last year, 391 families filed returns through this site, resulting in almost $730,000 dollars in refunds.

In addition to the site in Marysville, United Way also ran free tax preparation sites in Everett, Lynnwood and Monroe last year. Throughout Snohomish County, 2,588 working families had their taxes prepared for free through United Way, saving an estimated $469,260 in tax preparation fees and resulting in more than $5.1 million in refunds. The average refund was $1,803.

Since 2006, United Way volunteers have prepared 12,025 tax returns worth more than $20 million in refunds for Snohomish County families. Almost a third of that total, $6.39 million, can be attributed to the Earned Income Tax Credit, which the IRS estimates lifts more than 6.6 million Americans above the poverty line each year.

This free service is available for households earning $52,000 or less. Taxpayers with rental, royalty or partnership income are ineligible for this free service.

This year’s sponsors and partners include the Boeing Company, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Moss Adams LLP, Goodwill, the Walmart Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service.

Although no appointment is necessary, taxpayers must bring a picture ID, a Social Security card or tax identification number for everyone on the return, W2s or other income statements from all employers, any 1099 forms, records of student loan payments, records of payments for educational expenses such as college tuition, mortgage interest and property tax statements, a bank account number to receive your refund via direct deposit, last year’s tax return — if you have it — and the name, address and tax ID number for your child care provider. If you’re filing jointly, both spouses are required to be present to file electronically.

Goodwill’s Marysville Job Training and Education Center is located at 9315 State Ave. in Marysville.

For more information, please visit www.uwsc.org/freetaxpreparationcampaign.php or call 2-1-1 for information and referrals.