Everett Residents Get $3.5 Million in Tax Refunds With United Way of Snohomish County’s Help

We’ve told you several times about the free tax preparation help from United Way of Snohomish County at three locations in Everett. Well the numbers are in. Last year $3 million was returned and this year its nearly $3.5 million dollars. Here’s the rundown from Sara Haner at United Way of Snohomish County…

With this year’s tax season over, Everett-area residents have something to celebrate. United Way volunteers working out of three Everett sites helped 1,979 customers file their taxes for free generating $3,476,155 in refunds that people can spend at area businesses, use to pay off credit card debt or put into savings.

“The tax preparation program is the cornerstone of our financial stability work,” said Dennis G. Smith, president and CEO of United Way of Snohomish County. “Free tax preparation, encouraging people to save and promoting financial education is how we are doing our part to encourage financial stability among Snohomish County families.”

Of the nearly $3.5 million in refunds, $1,209,039 was received through the Earned Income Tax Credit, a federal program intended to help low-income working families keep more of what they earn.

The Everett free tax preparation sites were three of six run by United Way of Snohomish County with sponsorship and support from The Boeing Company, the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Wal-Mart Foundation, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Throughout Snohomish County, more than 3,500 people received almost $5.8 million in refunds this year.

Asset specialists at each site also helped customers pull credit reports, apply for public benefits and encouraged people to buy $15,550 in US Savings Bonds.

Over the past eight years (including 2014), United Way volunteers have prepared more than 15,400 tax returns worth over $26 million in refunds for Snohomish County families.

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