This morning, I woke up to an extra $438 in my bank account. And despite it being April Fools Day, the extra cash was no joke.

The money, deposited directly by the IRS, signified that I had filed my annual income tax returns and received a refund. But unlike previous years, I did not attempt to file my own taxes or pay a company to help me—nor did I owe money in the end.

This year, I filed my taxes using United Way of King County’s Free Tax Campaign. (With the help of the people picture above! Thank you!)

Strategically placed in public libraries and community centers around King County, United Way Free Tax Sites are run by IRS-certified volunteers who have committed to helping their neighbors file taxes and earn back their hard-earned cash. Last year, the Free Tax Campaign helped local families save an average of $1,809 on their taxes—nearly a month’s rent for many.

Although I didn’t qualify for credits like the Child Tax Credit or the Working Families Tax Credit, countless households across King County do qualify for those tax breaks, yet they don’t know how to file. The Free Tax program offers a helping hand—free of charge—to anyone who may feel intimidated, confused, or duped by tax season.

And with the April 15 tax deadline quickly approaching, now is a great time to find out if you qualify and where you can get connected. So, here’s how my experience went:

Using the Free Tax Campaign:

First, I confirmed that I qualify for the Free Tax Campaign via the General Eligibility portion of the website, a list that can also be found here.

Then, I gathered the required documents, including my photo ID, social security card, and W-2. (See the “What to Bring” list on the resource above.)

Next, I checked the Free Tax Sites Schedule to find a time and location that worked for me. Different sites offer services in at least 26 different languages and are open for a wide array of hours. The Seattle Public Library (Downtown) location has been unusually busy this year, resulting in longer wait times, so I decided to attend the Friday afternoon pop-up event.

Once set, I headed to Hopelink in Carnation, WA, for the Free Tax pop-up event.

Upon arriving, I was greeted by an intake volunteer who helped me complete the initial paperwork. Within 10 minutes, I was seated across from a tax volunteer.

The tax volunteer working with me asked questions about my financial situation and pored over the prepared documents. Nicole, who had joined the Free Tax campaign via the Peace Corps, cross-referenced my information, confirmed credits, and sifted through details. This took about 25 minutes.

Before finishing, a site supervisor confirmed my report. Jim, one of the United Way Free Tax Experts (or Taxperts), double-checked Nicole’s work, confirmed my routing numbers, and helped me sign some final documents.

“I’ve always done my own taxes,” Jim said, “and I thought this would be a fun way I could help others.” With a smile, he handed me my paperwork. “I’ve been doing this for seven years, but Steve over there has been volunteering for 12 years now.”

Then (without a fee or catch or last-minute twist), my taxes were done! In total, the whole experience took about 40 minutes (but to be fair, a good bit of that time was spent meeting the volunteers, chatting about our life experiences, and waiting for the printer to boot up).

All in all, this year was by far the least stressful tax season of my adult life.

Plus, I actually got a return.

This article reflects Editorial Associate Kayla Dunn’s experience at a Free Tax Site.

For more information about general eligibility, required documents, or site locations, please visit the main Free Tax Campaign website.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the next Free Tax Campaign, you can take a stand against poverty with us here.