MARYSVILLE — Working on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturdays, volunteers have helped 257 people in Marysville file their taxes for free as part of United Way of Snohomish County’s free tax preparation program.

The tax preparers, working out of Goodwill’s Job Training and Education Center, have helped residents get back $566,237 in refunds, including $176,218 through the Earned Income Tax Credit, saving taxpayers more than $42,405 in preparation fees. The average income for those making use of the program is approximately $23,000 a year.

In addition to the Free Tax Preparation Center in Marysville, United Way has also established sites in Everett, Lynnwood and Monroe. The tax sites are staffed by IRS-certified volunteers. At each site, volunteers are able to help people in English and Spanish.

The free service is intended to help people who make $51,000 or less annually.

Over the past four years, United Way volunteers have prepared 9,181 tax returns worth more than $15 million in refunds for Snohomish County working families.

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

Although no appointment is necessary, people should bring picture IDs, as well as social security cards or tax identification numbers 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, bank account numbers to receive their refunds via direct deposit, last year’s tax returns if possible, and the names, addresses and tax ID numbers for child care providers. If you’re filing jointly, both spouses must be present to file electronically.

United Way’s Tax Preparation Center in Marysville is at Goodwill’s Job Training and Education Center, located at 9315 State Ave., and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m., as well as on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.uwsc.org/freetaxpreparationcampaign.php or call 211 for information and referrals.