|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
With the 2023 tax season upon us, 30 local nonprofits have teamed up once again to offer free expert tax preparation services through Miami Tax Pros.
Led by the local nonprofit Branches, the Miami Tax Pros coalition provides a critical service to thousands of working individuals and families throughout the community.
In 2022, the coalition, formerly known as the Miami-Dade VITA Coalition, filed 6,837 tax returns, saving Miami-Dade residents more than $2 million in tax preparation fees and ensuring refunds of more than $11 million, including nearly $4 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
“As interest rates and the cost of goods continue to rise and families continue to navigate challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving the maximum refund can be critical,” said Brent McLaughlin, president and CEO of Branches. “We are proud to provide this important service to families in our community and hope we can help even more people file a timely and accurate return this year.”
In order to receive the maximum refund and/or benefits, taxes must be filed accurately. To ensure accuracy, Miami Tax Pros provides IRS-certified volunteers that can offer tax preparation services with electronic filing via virtual, in-person and drop off consultation methods. The group offers services in English, Spanish and Creole to best serve the needs of our diverse community and ensures taxpayers claim all appropriate tax credits.
“With more than half of Miami-Dade households barely making ends meet, accessing free tax preparation services and receiving maximum refunds provides a significant financial boost to our hardworking families and our local economy,” said Vanessa Benavides, assistant vice president of Financial Stability, United Way Miami.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Branches, Univision 23 and the IRS among others, to help residents prepare and file their taxes, alleviating some stress and providing them with financial tools and resources that they can utilize throughout the year,” Benavides continued.
Those who are eligible for free tax return assistance provided by Miami Tax Pros are those who speak limited or no English, have a disability, are above the age of 60 or are above the income threshold but have experienced financial hardship. Eligible participants should call 211 or visit miamitaxpros.com for instructions on how to locate a VITA site and connect with an IRS-certified tax expert that will review and file their return electronically.
To further assist community members with common tax questions, United Way’s Center for Financial Stability created the Miami Tax Guide website at www.miamitaxguide.com/ to help people decide if, how, and where to file.
About Branches
For over 40 years, Branches has made a positive impact in the community by delivering on its mission to serve, educate and inspire people through student, family and financial wellness services. Branches provides life-changing opportunities to working families and their children to help them break the cycle of generational poverty. We help people grow deeper and climb higher in life by building a foundation through education so they can achieve their goals and fulfill their potential.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts about the community, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered.
