Welcome news for poor people like us!  The nonprofit Tax-Aid is again offering free and safe tax services in 2021 to San Francisco Bay Area residents who earn less than $57,000.  SF Mayor Breed also announced a new financial support initiatives that offer up to $500 local tax credit and cash stimulus to households eligible for the San Francisco Working Families Credit.

Curbside Tax Document Drop Off

Tax-Aid is providing safe and easy-to-use virtual tax services to Bay Area residents and immigrants with low-to-moderate incomes to help them obtain those much-needed tax refunds and economic stimulus payments. Tax refunds can go a long way towards keeping families housed and making up for job losses as a result of the pandemic.  To abide by county mandated shelter in place orders and keep people safe from exposure to COVID-19, clients have the option to simply scan or take photos of their tax documents using their phone so Tax-Aid’s volunteer experts can prepare the tax return remotely.  In 2020, the nonprofit served over 3,000 Bay Area residents.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Tax-Aid recognized that there were people with low income who didn’t have access to the internet and couldn’t be served virtually. In response to this need, Tax-Aid mobilized their efforts to offer safe outdoor Curbside Tax Document Drop off services. Tax-Aid volunteers met people in community center parking lots to collect their tax documents. These events were a huge success in 2020 with over 250 people choosing the Curbside Tax Document Drop off option.

Tax-Aid convenient and accessible Curbside Tax Document Drop off Events return in 2021. To ensure the safety of clients and volunteers during COVID-19, Tax-Aid will conduct COVID-19 screening, enforce social distancing and require all attendees to wear a mask.  The first Curbside Tax Document Drop off event happened on Wednesday in a parking lot at Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road in Redwood City. Due to evolving local public health orders, the most up to date information about event locations will be posted on the website www.tax-aid.org.

Visit tax-aid.org/need-tax-help

Mayor London Breed Announces $500 Stimulus for Lower-Wage Workers and Families

New financial support initiatives offer up to $500 local tax credit and cash stimulus to households eligible for the San Francisco Working Families Credit.

San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) today announced $1.9 million in financial support initiatives that will provide up to $500 cash assistance this tax filing season to San Francisco working families struggling to make ends meet as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, free tax assistance centers are now open at dozens of San Francisco neighborhood locations to answer questions and help filers get more money back when they apply for local, state, and federal tax credits.

The 2021 San Francisco Working Families Credit (WFC) offers low- and moderate-income households with children a local tax credit of up to $250 to help cover day-to-day expenses such as utilities, rent, food, and child care. In addition to the opportunity to apply for the WFC this year, 4,000 households who were recipients of the WFC in 2020 will receive an additional rapid cash stimulus payment of $250.

Visit SFHSA for more info: sfhsa.org/services/jobs-money/free-tax-help