Free tax preparation services now available to households with income below $66,000

INDIANAPOLIS – Starting this week, households with an income of $66,000 or less last year can receive help completing and filing their taxes – for free – through Indy Free Tax Prep.  

Administered by United Way of Central Indiana, the program launched Monday and will run through the tax season in Boone, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties. The filing deadline is April 18.  

Indy Free Tax Prep helps families keep more of the money they work hard to earn, Anne Valentine, United Way’s vice president of government relations, said Monday at a press conference announcing this year’s program.  

“Even in the midst of the pandemic, United Way and its partner organizations are pleased to still be able to safely bring this vital program to our Central Indiana community,” she said.  

Last year, Indy Free Tax Prep helped nearly 4,000 households get about $5 million in federal refunds.  

Since the program began in 2015, IRS-certified volunteers have filed more than 40,000 tax returns, helping families receive more than $34 million in tax refunds. 

As part of this year’s efforts, Purdue Extension will provide free financial education programs to participants.  

“Even Albert Einstein once complained, ‘The hardest thing in the world to understand is income taxes,’” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said at the press conference, held at Amvets Post 99. “That’s why we’re all here today. To make this just a little bit easier.”   

Those seeking assistance can find a list of locations and instructions for signing up at indyfreetaxprep.com. Online filing assistance will be available at MyFreeTaxes.com until the end of May.  

To provide the program, United Way partners with the Internal Revenue Service, the City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Public Library, Purdue Extension and other community organizations.