Trusted Nonprofits Team-Up to Offer Free Expert Tax Preparation Services
Branches, United Way Miami and Univision 23 Together with 30 Local Partners Join Forces Once Again to Offer Free Tax Preparation through Miami Tax Pros
MIAMI (March 7, 2023) – With the 2023 tax season upon us, 30 local nonprofits have teamed-up once again to offer free expert tax preparation services through Miami Tax Pros. Led by the local nonprofit Branches, the Miami Tax Pros coalition provides a critical service to thousands of working individuals and families throughout the community.
In 2022, the coalition, formerly known as the Miami-Dade VITA Coalition, filed 6,837 tax returns, saving Miami-Dade residents more than $2 million in tax preparation fees and ensuring refunds of more than $11 million, including nearly $4 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
“As interest rates and the cost of goods continue to rise and families continue to navigate challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving the maximum refund can be critical,” said Brent McLaughlin, President & CEO of Branches. “We are proud to provide this important service to families in our community and hope we can help even more people file a timely and accurate return this year,” continued McLaughlin.
In order to receive the maximum refund and/or benefits, taxes must be filed accurately. To ensure accuracy, Miami Tax Pros provides IRS-certified volunteers that can offer tax preparation services with electronic filing via virtual, in-person and drop off consultation methods. The group offers services in English, Spanish and Creole to best serve the needs of our diverse community and ensures taxpayers claim all appropriate tax credit.
“With more than half of Miami-Dade households barely making ends meet, accessing free tax preparation services and receiving maximum refunds provides a significant financial boost to our hardworking families and our local economy,” said Vanessa Benavides, AVP of Financial Stability, United Way Miami. “We are excited to continue our partnership with Branches, Univision 23 and the IRS among others, to help residents prepare and file their taxes, alleviating some stress and providing them with financial tools and resources that they can utilize throughout the year,” continued Benavides.
Those who are eligible for free tax return assistance provided by Miami Tax Pros are those who speak limited or no English, have a disability, are above the age of 60 or are above the income threshold but have experienced a financial hardship. Eligible participants should call 211 or visit miamitaxpros.com for instructions on how to locate a VITA site and connect with an IRS-certified tax expert that will review and file their return electronically.
To further assist community members with common tax questions, United Way’s Center for Financial Stability created the Miami Tax Guide website to help people decide if, how, and where to file.
