Families and individuals who earned less than $54,000 last year can receive free assistance with their 2017 income tax returns at locations in Henrico County and throughout the metropolitan region.
MetroCASH, an IRS-sponsored local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program operated by United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, is hosting 15 sites, including two in Henrico: Libbie Mill Library, 2100 Libbie Lake East St., from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays Jan. 31 through April 12; and Fairfield Area Library, 1001 N. Laburnum Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays Feb. 3 through March 10. A complete list of sites and their operating hours is available at yourunitedway.org/MetroCASH.
IRS-certified tax preparers will help qualifying taxpayers complete and file their federal and state returns at each site. To receive assistance, participants should bring photo ID, Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number cards, copies of tax returns from 2016, W-2 and 1099-R forms, and any other income tax-related documents.
In addition to getting help with their taxes, participants will learn if they are eligible for the Earned Income Credit (EIC), a tax benefit that could boost a federal refund by more than $6,300 for families with at least three children and nearly $500 for individuals. EIC eligibility is based on income.
Last year, Metrocash volunteers helped area residents file more than 3,000 tax returns, generating nearly $795,000 in EIC funds and $3 million in federal refunds. Metrocash estimates the free service saved its clients more than $800,000 in preparation fees.
More information is available at yourunitedway.org/MetroCASH and by calling 211.
