Impact America’s SaveFirst Offering Free Online Tax Help

Still haven’t filed your taxes? A Birmingham-based nonprofit that assists patrons at several Birmingham Public Library locations is now offering a free online tax help for citizens staying at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Impact America has launched SaveFirst Online, a new initiative providing free income tax preparation services online to households making up to $60,000/year in partnership with ASK Telemarketing and Code For America. Interested individuals should visit www.ImpactAmerica.com/savefirstonline or call 1-888-99-TAX-AL to have their taxes prepared virtually by an IRS-certified volunteer.

 Even in times of stay-at-home orders and social distancing, Impact America is committed to providing quality IRS-Certified tax preparation to people in need, said Mary Kate Thomas, director of SaveFirst. Now more than ever, when many households across the state have been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak, SaveFirst ensures hardworking families have access to free tax preparation and receive the greatest tax refund possible, she said.

 Though the federal and state tax deadlines have been moved to July 15, the need for tax preparation is still great in our community. The IRS has recommended taxpayers to e-file as soon as possible if they think they will be owed a refund and has specifically advised taxpayers not to wait until July 15.

The tax preparation service is aimed at assisting families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is the federal government's largest and most successful anti-poverty program for low-income, working families. However, each year, Alabama families lose millions of dollars to commercial tax preparers simply to access this benefit.

Impact America's SaveFirst initiative is in its 14th year of operation. In 2019, SaveFirst served more than 9,700 families in Alabama – - including many patrons at Birmingham Public Library locations - helping them to claim over $16.3 million in refunds and save nearly $3.9 million in commercial tax preparation fees.

Impact America is an AmeriCorps Program. Alabama residents interested in having their taxes prepared virtually should visit impactamerica.com/savefirstonline or call 1-888-99-TAX-AL. For more information about the free tax service, visit www.impactamerica.com/savefirstonline.