Free tax preparation across the Bay Area.

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! is a United Way of the Bay Area-led coalition that provides low to moderate-income families with free tax return preparation, assistance with filing tax credit claims, and access to asset building or income support resources such as public benefits or matched savings accounts.  We provide free tax assistance to those with household incomes below $42,000 in 2007. We also assist taxpayers in claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which can amount to as much as $4,700 per family.

Across the Bay Area at more than 100 free sites, IRS-certified tax preparers are available to help individuals and families claim their maximum benefit and refund. Volunteers from all walks of life engage in their local communities to help us meet the enormous task of processing over 20,000  tax returns. By partnering with hundreds of community partners, we have grown the number of individuals and families that are now on the road to financial stability.

We estimate that between 20% and 25% of EITC eligible tax filers are not receiving this credit. These substantial tax credits can be the first step in helping families meet their every day needs, as well as save toward assets such as higher education, a first home or a new business.

During the 2007 tax season, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! returned$23.3 million in tax refunds to 22,867 local hardworking families and to the local economy. Over the last five years, the program turned a $610,000 investment from United Way’s Bay Area Community Fund into a $71.3 million return for local families and our community.

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! supports United Way’s goal of helping low-income families become self-sufficient and save money for their future. The program exemplifies the innovative investments and partnerships we support through our Bay Area Community Fund.

Need Help?
Dial 2-1-1 in San Francisco.

The Earn It! Keep It! Save It!
fact sheet

To learn more about Earn It! Keep It! Save It! and the great work the Bay Area communities do to serve low-to-moderate income working families and individuals through free tax preparation and access to asset development resources, please download our EKS fact sheet.

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Fact Sheet (pdf)