MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tax season is upon us, and if you’re having trouble filing, you aren’t alone.
The United Way is opening free tax preparation sites across the Mid-South and held a ribbon cutting at the Raleigh Springs Mall, one of many locations where you can get tax help without even opening your wallet.
Filing taxes just got a lot easier for low-income families in the area.
“Those representatives are trained. They are certified to do your tax returns,” Jean Morton with the United Way said.
The United Way opened 20 free tax preparation sites where people who qualify can get assistance.
“Last year in the Memphis metro area, there were an estimated 125,869 eligible households,” Edmund Ford said.
Taquesha Richards was one of the first people to get tax help at the site in the Raleigh Springs Mall. She said she’s grateful for the reliable help, because she has had friends who were scammed by fake filers.
“They filed with the young lady, and they never got their refund back,” she said.
Eligibility for the free filing help depends on your income, marital status, and how many children you have. All you have to bring is your Social Security card, a picture ID, W-2s and 1099s, and your bank routing and account number.
You could receive a credit of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and the United Way wants to make sure you get every penny you qualify for.
“When people know they can get something back, that’s wonderful,” Myron Lowery said. “That is what we’re all about.”
To find a United Way free tax-preparation site near you, call 211. Most sites are open six days a week.
