MORRIS COUNTY — With the end of tax season quickly approaching, there’s good news for area residents who still haven’t filed. MyFreeTaxes.com has enhanced features that allows most filers to complete their taxes in under one hour United Way of Northern New Jersey announced.
MyFreeTaxes.com is a safe, easy and free way for individuals or families earning less than $66,000 to file their federal and state taxes. For filers earning more than $66,000, some fees may apply.
For the past nine years, United Ways across the country have partnered with H&R Block to provide free tax filing services for federal and state taxes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since that time, this partnership has helped nearly a million people file their returns, bringing more than $1 billion in refunds back to local communities.
“Tax season is a source of confusion and stress for most Americans,” United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO John Franklin said. “Many are worried they’ll make a mistake, won’t get their full refund or will pay too much. With MyFreeTaxes.com, filers can get support from IRS-certified specialists and cut down the time it takes to complete their returns.”
MyFreeTaxes.com users get access to an H&R Block premium product with enhanced features to ensure filers get every dollar they deserve:
- Ability to upload image of your W-2, allowing MyFreeTaxes.com to automatically fill in your information;
- Free, unlimited, personalized real-time chat and phone support in English and Spanish from IRS-certified specialists at 1-855-MY-TX-HELP;
- Refund RevealTM shows filers how and why their refund amount is changing in real time; and
- Advanced functionality for those working in the gig economy.
Taxpayers earning less than $66,000 can enter their data through MyFreeTaxes.com, which links to a secure H&R Block website, making it easy to complete their taxes from home, at work or on mobile devices.
Along with MyFreeTaxes.com, area residents living paycheck to paycheck also have the option of free in-person tax preparation. United Way of Northern New Jersey, in conjunction with NORWESCAP RSVP, Greater Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Partners for Health Foundation, Single Stop and the IRS, offers a free tax preparation program at more than 20 sites throughout its five-county region. Residents meet one-on-one with IRS-certified volunteers who prepare and file both state and federal returns for free.
This free service is designed to help the 37 percent of New Jersey households identified by the United Way ALICE Report as living below the ALICE Threshold – living paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford necessities. For local individuals and families who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or in poverty, the free tax preparation program allows them to receive the credits and refunds they’ve earned while saving them the average $270 fee paid tax preparers charge.
Last year, United Way and its partners made it possible for nearly 5,500 households to file their taxes for free, refunding nearly $6.2 million and saving residents more than $1 million in tax preparation costs.
United Way in-person tax preparation sites are open in Morris, Somerset, Suburban Essex, Sussex and Warren counties. To make an appointment at a free tax site or to find out more information about MyFreeTaxes.com, visit www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/FreeTaxPrep.
United Way of Northern New Jersey is a nonprofit organization working to improve people’s lives and strengthen communities by focusing on Education, Income, and Health. These are the building blocks for a good life – a quality education that leads to a stable job; the tools needed to achieve financial stability; and good health. We lead caring communities to create long-lasting changes that transform people’s lives. Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. United Way of Northern New Jersey serves Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties as well as portions of suburban Essex County, including the Caldwells, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Millburn-Short Hills, Montclair, Roseland, and Verona. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED. To learn more, call 973.993.1160 or visit www.UnitedWayNNJ.org.
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is a global consumer tax services provider. Tax return preparation services are provided by professional tax preparers in approximately 12,000 company-owned and franchise retail tax offices worldwide, and through H&R Block tax software products for the DIY consumer. H&R Block also offers adjacent Tax Plus products and services. In fiscal 2016, H&R Block had annual revenues of over $3 billion with 23.2 million tax returns prepared worldwide. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom.
