It's tax season. Free tax prep help is available for people earning roughly $60,000 or less.
It's tax season. Free tax prep help is available for people earning roughly $60,000 or less. Credit: Jeff Haynes / Signal Cleveland

You probably can’t avoid filing income taxes, but you can definitely avoid paying to have your taxes prepared. 

Taxpayers have several free tax prep options. They include those offered by the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition for taxpayers roughly earning not more than $60,000. Volunteers, who are certified by the Internal Revenue Service, complete qualified taxpayers’ returns for free. Electronic filing is provided at no cost.

For those who want to complete their own returns, IRS Free File offers free guided tax prep software. Most taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less can use this filing feature. Adjusted gross income is generally a taxpayer’s income after deductions such as contributions to a traditional Individual Retirement Account.

Because these services are free, this program helps individuals who use our services save approximately $200 to $300 by not having to pay someone to prepare and e-file their tax return.

Kathy Matthews of the Enterprise Community Partners, the nonprofit leading the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition.
Free tax prep offered by the EITC Coalition
The EITC Coalition offers free tax prep for people making up to about $60,000.

Where can I do my taxes for free in Ohio?

The EITC Coalition focuses on making sure low-income and working-class residents take advantage of tax breaks designed for them, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. People can receive several thousand dollars from this credit, based on their income and family size. 

Kathy Matthews, senior program director in Ohio for Enterprise Community Partners, the nonprofit leading the coalition, said there is a direct savings as well.

“Because these services are free, this program helps individuals who use our services save approximately $200 to $300 by not having to pay someone to prepare and e-file their tax return,” she wrote to Signal Cleveland in an email.

The EITC is preparing taxes at more than a dozen sites throughout Cuyahoga County. Click here for the list:  Free tax service and preparation in Cleveland, Ohio | The Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit (refundohio.org)

Appointments may be made by dialing  2-1-1, the United Way Help Center. They also  can be made through the EITC Coalition’s online Appointment system (itfrontdesk.com).

For the next two Saturdays, the EITC Coalition will hold Super Refund Tax events at these locations:

  • The St. Ignatius High School/KeyBank Super Saturday will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 3, in the Rade Dining Hall at the school, 1911 W. 30th St., Cleveland.
  • The Cleveland Central Catholic High School/Third Federal Super Saturday will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 10, at the school, 6550 Baxter Ave., Cleveland.

The EITC Coalition completed 10,188 tax returns last year, Matthews said. To get an up-close look at how the program works, see this 2023 Signal Cleveland article on the Famicos Foundation site in Cleveland.

Where are the cheapest places to file my taxes?

The IRS is extending the hours at its Taxpayer Assistance Centers, including the one in Cleveland. The center at 1240 E. Ninth St. is open weekdays Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., until April 16.

Taxpayers can walk in or make an appointment. Find more information on the IRS website or by calling (844) 545-5640. 

Click here for other free IRS options.

Economics Reporter (she/her)
Economics is often thought of as a lofty topic, but it shouldn’t be. My goal is to offer a street-level view of economics. My focus is on how the economy affects the lives of Greater Clevelanders. My areas of coverage include jobs, housing, entrepreneurship, unions, wealth inequality and pocketbook issues such as inflation.