United Way of King County understands that while Tax Day has passed, some folks still have yet to file their IRS returns. That’s why after a brief closure of our 18 Free Tax Preparation sites, we will reopen a select few in May, allowing those who make less than $80,000 a year (or $96,000 for non-single filers) a chance to have their returns prepared free of charge.

As of April 21, only three sites are still open: Our site at Hopelink Bellevue remains open through today, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; our site at Lake City Customer Service Center remains open through today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and our site at Hopelink Shoreline remains open through tomorrow, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This year, United Way has helped more than 10,000 people claim nearly $14 million in refunds and tax credits.

For more information on how United Way works to help make filing IRS returns less taxing, listen to our Hourglass Podcast.

Here are the sites that will reopen next month:

• Our site at Hopelink Bellevue will be open from May 7 to July 30. Site hours are slated for Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Our site at the Central branch of the Seattle Public Library will open from May 9 to July 27. Site hours are slated for Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Our site at Southcenter Mall will open from May 9 to July 28. Site hours are slated for Thursdays to Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
• Our virtual site opens on May 13.

Most of our Free Tax Prep sites closed shortly after the April 15 tax filing deadline. April 15 was also the day when United Way joined Governor Jay Inslee in announcing the new IRS Direct File program, which also allows taxpayers to file their returns for free.

Tax filers with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number who have previously filed taxes can participate. United Way of King County is one of the official Volunteer Income Tax Assistance providers who offer free tax preparation services in Washington state to help make sure every Washingtonian can get their boost.

State officials say that free tax filing is essential to help working families claim credits such as the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit. Last year,  families in Washington received an average of $2,212 from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and $714 from the Working Families Tax Credit.  In 2024, more than 156,000 households received an average Working Families Tax Credit refund of $790.

Inslee said that Washington state is one of about a dozen states included in this year’s Direct File pilot.

“We always like to be the first,” said Inslee. “I think this will be a very, very successful program. It’s so easy to use. And I want to thank the President [Biden] for making this happen. He was the leader that helped make this happen, and we jumped at the chance. This is yet another way we are leading the country. We are leading on climate change; we are leading on health care. We are leading in so many different ways; we are proud of our state.”