MARYSVILLE — With this year’s tax season over, Marysville has something to celebrate.
United Way volunteers working out of Totem Middle School helped 347 customers file their taxes for free, generating $516,974 in refunds that people can spend at area businesses, use to pay off credit card debt or put into savings.
“The tax preparation sites have been a huge success,” said Dennis G. Smith, president and CEO of United Way of Snohomish County. “Free tax preparation, encouraging people to save and promoting other financial education programs are part of our effort to encourage financial stability among Snohomish County families.”
Of the more than half a million dollars in refunds, $178,000 were received through the Earned Income Tax Credit, a federal program intended to help low-income working families keep more of what they earn.
The Marysville free tax preparation site was one of six run by United Way with sponsorship and support from the Boeing Company, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Bank of America, Moss Adams, LLP, Goodwill, the Walmart Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service.
Throughout Snohomish County, more than 2,500 people received almost $4 million in refunds this year.
Asset specialists at each site also helped customers pull credit reports, apply for public benefits and encouraged people to buy $18,750 in US Savings Bonds.
Over the past six years, including 2012, United Way volunteers have prepared more than 9,204 tax returns, worth almost $15 million in refunds for Snohomish County families.
United Way is a community impact organization serving Snohomish County for more than 70 years. In addition to funding 102 programs through 39 agencies with a special focus on local health and human services, United Way of Snohomish County supports a number of initiatives focusing on early learning and education, financial stability for families, a youth program, North Sound 211 and an emerging initiative in survival English.
To find out more about United Way of Snohomish County, including how you can find help, how to volunteer and how United Way serves our community, please visit its website at uwsc.org.
