EITC Awareness Day: Get the Credit You Deserve with Free Tax Help!

Tax season is here, and we're excited to share some news that could put real money back in your pocket! January 30, 2026 marks the 19th annual EITC Awareness Day: a nationwide effort to make sure hardworking families and individuals know about and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit they've earned. And guess what? United Way of Steele County is here to help you every step of the way with FREE tax preparation services!

Whether you've claimed the EITC before or this is your first time hearing about it, we want to make sure our Steele County neighbors aren't leaving money on the table. Let's dive into what this credit is all about and how our community can help you claim it!

What Exactly Is the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit designed specifically for low to moderate-income working families and individuals. Think of it as the government's way of saying "thank you" for your hard work: a financial boost that can make a real difference in your family's budget.

Here's what makes the EITC so powerful:

• It rewards work by providing extra support for those who earn income through employment
• It offsets taxes you've already paid throughout the year
• It can significantly boost your refund, with eligible taxpayers receiving an average of $2,743 in tax year 2023
• It helps lift families out of poverty: before the pandemic, the EITC combined with the child tax credit helped lift 10.6 million people above the poverty line

The numbers speak for themselves: approximately 23 million workers and families received about $64 billion total from the EITC as of December 2024. That's real money making real impact in communities just like ours!

Why EITC Awareness Day Matters to Steele County

Here's something that might surprise you: the IRS estimates that roughly one in five eligible taxpayers miss out on claiming this valuable credit every year. That's 20% of people who qualify but never receive the money they've earned!

Even more eye-opening? About one-third of workers eligible for the EITC may be newly qualified each year. Life changes: maybe you got married, had a baby, changed jobs, or experienced a shift in income. All of these can affect your eligibility, which means you might qualify this year even if you didn't before.

EITC Awareness Day, happening this Friday, January 30th, is all about spreading the word so our neighbors don't miss out. We believe every working family in Steele County deserves to know about the credits available to them: and deserves help claiming them!

We're Your Official VITA Site: And It's Completely FREE!

United Way of Steele County is proud to be an official Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. What does that mean for you? It means our IRS-certified volunteers are trained and ready to help you file your taxes accurately and completely: at absolutely no cost to you!

That's right: FREE federal and state income tax preparation, handled by people who genuinely care about our community.

But we don't stop there! Our services also include:

• Minnesota Property Tax Refunds
• Renters Refunds
• Homeowners Refunds

These additional refunds can add up to hundreds of dollars that many people don't even realize they're eligible for. Our volunteers make sure we look at the complete picture so you get every dollar coming your way.

Are You Eligible? You Might Be Surprised!

One of the biggest reasons people miss out on free tax help is assuming they don't qualify. Let us clear that up right now!

If your household earned under $89,000 in 2025, you're eligible for our FREE tax preparation services.

That's a pretty wide range, and it means many working families in Steele County can take advantage of what we offer. Whether you're:

• A single parent working hard to make ends meet
• A young professional just starting your career
• A family with multiple incomes
• A senior on a fixed income
• Anyone in between!

For the EITC specifically, eligibility depends on your filing status, income level, and number of dependents. Here's a quick snapshot:

Filing Status	No Children	1 Child	2 Children	3+ Children
Single/Head of Household	Up to $18,591	Up to $49,084	Up to $55,768	Up to $59,899
Married Filing Jointly	Up to $25,511	Up to $56,004	Up to $62,688	Up to $66,819

Not sure where you fall? That's exactly why we're here! Our volunteers can help determine your eligibility and make sure you're claiming everything you deserve.

Flexible Options That Work for YOUR Schedule

We get it: life is busy! Between work, family, and everything else on your plate, finding time for taxes can feel impossible. That's why we offer multiple ways to get your taxes done:

Drop-Off Appointments: Short on time? Simply drop off your tax documents, and our volunteers will prepare your return. We'll contact you when everything is ready for your review and signature. Easy peasy!

In-Person Appointments: Prefer to sit down with someone and go through everything together? We've got you covered! Schedule a face-to-face appointment where our volunteers will walk you through the entire process.

Both options get you the same thorough, accurate tax preparation: just pick what works best for your lifestyle!

We Speak Your Language

Our community is beautifully diverse, and we want everyone to feel welcome and supported when they come to us for help. That's why we offer multilingual support in English, Spanish, and Somali.

Language should never be a barrier to getting the tax credits and refunds you've earned. Our volunteers are ready to assist you in the language you're most comfortable with, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation when it comes to your finances.

Last Season's Impact: Over $1 Million Back to Steele County!

Want to know the real power of community coming together? Last tax season, our VITA program helped prepare over 700 tax returns: and put more than $1 MILLION back into the pockets of Steele County residents!

Let that sink in for a moment. One million dollars. Staying right here in our community. Going toward groceries, rent, childcare, car repairs, savings accounts, and all the other things that help families thrive.

When you use our free tax preparation services, you're not just helping yourself: you're contributing to the economic health of our entire community. Every dollar that stays local makes Steele County stronger.

This year, we want to help even more neighbors claim what they've earned. Will you be one of them?

Ready to Get Started? Here's How!

Booking your FREE tax preparation appointment is simple! Head over to our Free Tax Preparation page where you can:

• Fill out our easy online webform to request your preferred appointment type and time
• Find our phone number if you'd rather schedule by calling directly
• Get all the details on what documents to bring and what to expect

Don't wait until the last minute! Appointments fill up quickly during tax season, so the sooner you book, the better your chances of getting a time that works for you.

Spread the Word!

Know someone who could benefit from free tax help? Maybe a coworker, neighbor, family member, or friend? Share this information with them! Remember, one in five eligible taxpayers miss out on the EITC every year: let's make sure that doesn't happen to anyone in Steele County.

You can help by:

• Sharing our tax preparation page on social media
• Mentioning our services at work, church, or community gatherings
• Encouraging anyone earning under $89,000 to check their eligibility

Together, we can make sure every working family in our community gets the credits they deserve!

This Friday Is EITC Awareness Day: Let's Celebrate!

Mark your calendars for January 30th and join the nationwide movement to help working Americans claim what's theirs. At United Way of Steele County, we're committed to building financial security for our neighbors, and free tax preparation is one of the most impactful ways we do that.

You work hard. You deserve every credit coming your way. And we're here to help you get it: for FREE!

Visit unitedwaysteelecounty.org/tax-preparation today to book your appointment. Let's put that money back where it belongs: in your pocket and in our community!