This tax season, thousands of Cuyahoga County residents are eligible for free, high-quality tax preparation services — but many don’t know it exists.
“It’s sort of the best-kept secret,” said Nina Holzer, director of Financial Mobility with CHN Housing Partners. “And we don’t want it to be the best-kept secret. We want folks to know you can get your taxes done for free and retain every single dollar that you’ve worked for and are owed.”
If you are an individual or family earning up to $69,000 a year, you qualify for free tax preparation services.
CHN Housing Partners is a long-standing member of the Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition, a partnership of nonprofit and community organizations that provide free state and federal income tax preparation to eligible residents.
The coalition is part of a national volunteer program that has offered free tax preparation services for over 50 years. Since 2005, the local coalition has helped taxpayers file taxes and claim credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Today, it hosts 18 tax sites around Cuyahoga County.
The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition has two more Tax Preparation Clinics at the Tri-C Metropolitan Campus scheduled for this tax season. The clinic times are:
- Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Thursday, March 5, 2-7 p.m.
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate incomes. It is designed to boost wages and reduce poverty by putting money back into workers’ pockets.
For taxes filed in 2026 (for the 2025 tax year), working families with children earning below $50,434 to $68,675 — depending on marital status and number of children — may qualify. During the 2022 tax year, the average credit was $3,338 for a family with children.
Workers without children can also qualify, though the credit is much smaller. In a recent year, the average credit for workers without children was about $383.
The earned income credit is refundable. If the credit is larger than the amount of taxes owed, the worker receives the remaining amount as a refund.
The credit is one of the nation’s most effective anti-poverty programs. In 2024, it helped lift 4.4 million people above the poverty line, including 2.3 million children. Without the credit, child poverty would have been more than 20% higher.
A step-by-step guide to getting tax support
Each year, CHN’s tax site processes 2,000 to 2,400 returns. The site, located in Room 110 in the same building as Li Wah and Park to Shop at 2999 Payne Ave., typically opens around Martin Luther King Jr. Day in mid-January.
Unlike many tax programs that close after the April filing deadline, CHN operates year-round. Late filers can still make appointments after tax season ends.
Appointments also can be scheduled at RefundOhio.org by clicking “Make an Appointment.” Residents can choose a specific site by location or select the next available appointment across the county.
At CHN, appointments are available Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays after 1 p.m. CHN operates one of the coalition’s few drop-off tax sites, a model many clients prefer.
During the visit, taxpayers meet with a certified intake specialist for a 15 to 30-minute document review. Clients must bring:
- A photo ID
- Social Security cards for everyone listed on the return
- All income documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.)
- Any other relevant paperwork
For residents who haven’t filed because they’re missing paperwork, Holzer recommends requesting a tax transcript directly from the IRS website or by scheduling an appointment at the downtown IRS office. Those transcripts can also be used to complete prior-year returns.
After documents are submitted, volunteers prepare the return over approximately two weeks. When the return is ready, clients receive a call, review their federal and state returns in detail, and sign before filing.
Other coalition sites offer traditional sit-down appointments where taxpayers work directly with a preparer for one to two hours and complete the return in one visit. Holzer said the coalition’s flexibility allows residents to choose the format that works best for them — whether they prefer real-time participation or need a quicker drop-off option due to work or childcare constraints.
Coalition sites prepare federal and Ohio state returns. However, they do not prepare municipal returns, such as those filed through RITA or the City of Cleveland, due to the complexity and variation among local tax systems.
No more paper refund checks from the IRS
This year, federal changes mean most taxpayers will no longer receive paper refund checks. Refunds will be issued via direct deposit or prepaid debit card.
Holzer said direct deposit into a bank account is the safest and fastest option.
“If you lose that debit card, we don’t know what the protections will be,” she said. “The best thing people can do is come to us with a bank account already set up.”
For residents without bank accounts, CHN counselors — who are part of the Bank On Coalition — can help individuals open safe, low-cost accounts and learn about their options.
High volume, high impact
CHN’s tax preparation services are an opportunity for families to stabilize their financial situation and then reinvest in themselves and their communities.
Holzer said outreach efforts focus on households that may not know they’re eligible for these credits — or who might otherwise pay commercial tax preparers and lose part of their refund to fees.
Through CHN’s financial and housing counseling services, clients can create plans for using refunds to pay down debt, build savings or prepare for homeownership.
Holzer acknowledges that some residents may hesitate because the service is free and volunteer-run.
“I think sometimes there’s a perception that something that is free is not going to be as good,” she said. “The reality is, we know it’s a high-quality service, and people leave very happy every year.”
For thousands of families each year, the coalition’s work means more money stays in their pockets — and in the local economy.