Now that the winter holidays are over, it’s tax filing season and the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition is sharing key resources people can use to fill out their tax forms.
“With tax season underway, hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts families could be eligible for cash that could help cover rent, groceries, and other essentials, Charlotte Bruce says. Bruce is a Senior Research & Policy Analyst at Children’s HealthWatch, the pediatric network that leads the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition. “These refunds, which can be thousands of dollars back into families’ pockets, are a crucial financial boost. Awareness of credits and access to free tax filing resources can mean the difference between financial hardship and stability.
(Be sure to join us on Wednesday, February 26th, on The 9:30 Call, when Bruce will discuss taxes. You can sign up to be a 9:30 Caller here.)
Among the key facts Massachusetts tax filers should know:
• Residents can file their taxes for free. To learn more, go to the Find Your Funds website.
• The Find Your Funds website has information in nine languages, including facts about federal tax credits and the Massachusetts Senior Circuit Breaker Credit
• Even if they have no income, local tax filers may be eligible for Massachusetts’ $440 Child and Family Tax Credit if they have:
• A dependent child
• A dependent who is age 65 or older, or
• A dependent or spouse with a disability
• Filers who need help preparing their tax forms have two options:
• The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax help through IRS-certified volunteers to people who generally make $67,000 or less, and
• The Boston Tax Help Coalition, which provides multilingual services and helps taxpayers with disabilities
While tax season will probably never be filled with joy, it’s a great time to share useful resources.