Nov 8, 2023 2 min read

United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is recruiting 325 volunteer tax preparers and 25 greeters for its 2023-2024 Free Tax Preparation effort in Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

Volunteers complete tax returns for low-income families and individuals, to ensure that everyone receives the full refunds they have earned and deserve. Volunteers can help working families obtain the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs. Depending on the number of qualifying children, individuals and families can pay less federal tax or get a tax refund ranging from $600 to $7,430.

Volunteers also help families determine if they qualify for Child Tax Credits (CTC) through their return. The CTC helps families claim up to $2,000 per child under the age of 17, providing major relief to working families and reducing the amount they may owe on their taxes.

No prior tax preparation experience is necessary to volunteer during the season, which runs from mid-January through April 15, 2024. All volunteers must complete IRS-required training and certification. Tax prep services are provided virtually, in-person and via drop off.

Last year, 280 volunteers working at 20 Free Tax Prep locations prepared nearly 8,000 returns, saved working families more than $2 million in tax prep fees and generated $10.6 million in refunds.

Volunteers must sign up before Dec. 31 at swpafreetaxes.org.