Before you have your refund, you need to file your taxes.
See if you qualify for free tax filing. There are several options available:
- You can receive free tax preparation assistance at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) location VITA sites are available for free to qualifying individuals, including those who make $58,000 or less annually, limited English-speaking tax payers, and people with disabilities.
When visiting a VITA site, preparation is key! The IRS offers a helpful What to Bring resource that highlights the necessary documents to help prepare taxpayers for their visit.
VITA sites offer can vary in the services they offer from community to community, so it’s important to ensure that the site chosen by a taxpayer is an appropriate fit for their needs.
To learn more about VITA and to locate a site in your area, visit the IRS website or see below for sites in Boulder and Broomfield counties:
FREE Tax Sites:
AARP – Lafayette Library, 775 Baseline Road, Lafayette, CO 80026. Open 2/9 through 4/9. Wednesdays and Saturdays – various times. By appointment only. Call 303-665-5200 or online at https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
AARP – Louisville Recreation Center – 900 Via Appia Way, Louisville, CO 80027. Open 2/7 through 4/4. Mondays – various starting times. By appointment only. Call 303-335-4919 or online at https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
AARP - Boulder Senior Services, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder, CO 80303. Open 2/3 through 4/7. Thursdays - Various starting times. Call 303-441-4150 or online at https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
AARP – Broomfield Senior Center, 280 Lamar Street, Broomfield, CO 80020. Open 2/4 through 4/1. Fridays – various starting times. Call 303-464-5526 or online at https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
AARP – Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Avenue, Longmont, CO 80501. Open 2/3/22 through 4/7. Tuesdays and Thursdays – various starting times – call 303-774-4429 or online at https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
AARP – West Boulder Senior Center – 909 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO. Open 2/3/22 through 4/7/22. Thursdays – 9:00am to 2:00p. This is a drop-off site only. Available by appointment only. 720-327-3363 https://cotaxaide.org/appt/
2. If you prefer to file your taxes for free online, use My Free Taxes. My Free Taxes is a service of the United Way and is a great option if you want to file your taxes yourself. The online platform will guide you through every step and make sure you get all the cash-back tax credits you are eligible for.
You will need access to a computer and a valid email address to use My Free Taxes. The average tax return usually takes about an hour.
Visit MyFreeTaxes.com to learn more and get started.
3. Get Your Refund is a service of Code for America and a coalition of community partners and volunteers. Get Your Refund is free for taxpayers and families who earn less than $66,000 a year.
Get Your Refund is a great option if you do not have easy access to a computer, but do have a smartphone. Taxpayers take a picture of their ID and tax documents and upload the photos to a private and secure site. Then, taxpayers complete a short questionnaire to get matched with a tax professional who will call you and complete your return remotely.
Visit GetYourRefund.org/CO to learn more and get started.
4. If your income is $73,000 or less, you can use most major tax preparation software to file your taxes for free through the IRS Free File Alliance .
5. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families can use the free online tax prep and e-filing program MilTax .
In addition to filing for free, make sure that you receive the following credits if you are eligible.
Tax credits help Coloradans get ahead
Nearly 1 in 4 eligible working Coloradans miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit, and these are the individuals who could benefit the most. The EITC helps individuals and families living on low incomes break out of the cycle of generational poverty, and achieve greater economic self-sufficiency and mobility. Help us spread the word about tax credits, as well as free tax filing resources by sharing this post
The Earned Income Tax Credit gives working people an extra boost
You could get up to $6,700 in cash back depending on your income and how many dependent children you have. Even workers who make very little income can get some amount of cash back. File a tax return to get your EITC payment.
The Child Tax Credit helps families make ends meet
Families can get up to $3,600 per child up to 6 years old and up to $3,000 per child from 6-17 years old. Unlike other tax credits, you do not need to make any income to get the Child Tax Credit. But you do need to file a simple tax return to get your payments.
Other tax time resources:
CFPB Tips for Using Your Tax Refund to Build Your Savings! Check out this helpful guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filled with lots of tips and insight focused on helping you and your community learn how maximize your tax refund by putting it work to grow your savings.
Tax Time Guidance for Gig Workers Many employees took on new and alterative approaches to work this year in the face of an ongoing global health crisis. For those who are new to gig work, the IRS has created a helpful resource to make tax prep easier! This resource provides guidance on record keeping, paying estimated taxes, preparing to file, and filing your tax return. Be sure to share this resource with your community so every worker is prepared to file!
Resources for Uber and Lyft drivers
Tax Help Colorado
Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer
Events:
Feb 21st at 2pm ET | #ThinkLikeASaver: 5 Ways to Make Saving Easier
Are you noticing a theme so far? Tax time is a great time to save! Be sure to save the date for 5 Ways to Make Saving Easier, our next installment of the #ThinkLikeASaver Town Hall Series! This Town Hall will provide a variety of tips and strategies to help you and your community shift your mindset and prepare to take on a saving-focused new year. The America Saves Team will be joined by industry experts as we discuss the simple ways to make this valuable journey less daunting!
This Town Hall is taking place on February 21st at 2pm ET, register to participate today!
EXPECTING A LUMP SUM OF CASH? CONSIDER THIS SIMPLE SAVING STRATEGY
Using this strategy you are contributing toward your past (debt), your present, and your future (saving goal). Doesn’t that just make you feel accomplished? #ThinkLikeASaver.
Whether you’re getting a tax refund, a bonus, or just an unexpected check in the mail — it’s exciting to have money coming your way. If you’re like me, you probably even dream of how you’d like to spend it before you get it! While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, we want you to pause just a moment and consider a strategy that will allow you to be in a better financial situation.
We call it the 30-40-30 Plan.
And it’s really simple! This plan allows you to allocate money towards your complete financial situation.
- allocate 30% of your funds to pay off outstanding debts or catch up on bills
- allocate 40% of your funds to pay for current expenses, needs, or wants
- allocate 30% of your funds to establish or build up savings. This could be an emergency fund or a longer-term goal like retirement or a large purchase like a home.
Using this strategy you are contributing toward your past (debt), your present, and your future (saving goal). Doesn’t that just make you feel accomplished? #ThinkLikeASaver
ABOUT THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT ENTERPRISE (PIE) PROGRAM
The Personal Investment Enterprise (PIE) program is a local savings program provided through Community Action Programs of Boulder County and Mile High United Way. The program is designed for low-income families to enroll in financial literacy classes and save through a matched saving account at a rate of 4 to 1. The first step in applying to the program is to attend an orientation meeting with Diana Sanchez at Community Action Programs at Boulder County. Diana may be reached at 303-441-3998 or at [email protected]. For more information on the PIE program visit https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/community-action-programs/personal-investment-enterprise/ or https://unitedwaydenver.org/personal-investment-enterprise-pie-program/. To see if you qualify, take this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PrelimPIE.