Earn It! Keep it! Save It! is the Bay Area's largest free tax assistance program coordinated by United Way in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). San Mateo County offers many locations for free tax preparation. If your 2010 income was less than $49,000 you qualify for this service. Please download this PDF in English or in Spanish to find a location and availability in your city. All sites are open to walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may also make an appointment by calling 211 or 800-358-8832 or by visiting the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! website.

Please bring the following for your appointment:

• Social Security cards or ITIN for all family members

   

• W-2 forms for all jobs

   

• 1099 forms and other income forms

   

• Voided check for direct deposit

   

• Childcare provider information: name, address, tax id number

   

• Previous year’s tax return if available

   

• Name, address and phone number of landlord (if you have one)

“Free File” is a program that provides tax preparation software from the IRS to the constituent for free.  Through IRS Free File, all taxpayers who made less than $58,000 in 2010 can access the industry’s top tax preparation software, as well as a comprehensive suite of online tax forms. Participating taxpayers can also have their tax refunds direct-deposited in as little as 10 days.  The IRS estimates that they give 100 million Americans online access to tax preparation software.