Free Tax Help Offered In Baltimore

From Cash MD: Now in its 18th year offering FREE tax preparation services for low-to-moderate income Marylanders, the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Campaign of Maryland is operating tax preparation sites in the Baltimore area and working with over 45 partner organizations across the state to provide free tax preparation services. Joining the CASH Campaign to kick off the new tax season on January 28 were Congressman Elijah Cummings and Congressman John Sarbanes. Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University, welcomed the guests to the press event. Mayor Catherine Pugh’s Chief of Staff Bruce Williams presented the CASH Campaign with a Mayoral Proclamation. Due to the government shutdown, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig was unable to attend but lent his support for the good works of the CASH Campaign. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot was also unable to attend for the first time in years due to his swearing-in but encouraged Marylanders to utilize the CASH Campaign’s free tax preparation services. January 28 is significant because it’s the first day the IRS is accepting 2018 tax returns.

The “Keep Your Money!” announcement event was held on the campus of Morgan State University at the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management’s The Business Center, which is a CASH Campaign free tax preparation site. Of the 13 Baltimore City and 3 Baltimore County free tax prep sites, 4 of the City’s Community Action Partnership centers are CASH Campaign partners hosting free tax preparation sites. Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University, welcomed the audience of CASH Campaign partners to their free tax prep site. The Co-Founder & CEO of the nonprofit CASH Campaign of Maryland, Robin McKinney, addressed proposed Maryland legislation to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to younger taxpayers without dependents, as well as the benefits of free tax preparation and the opportunity it provides to offer other wealth-creating services such as opening savings accounts, buying US Savings Bonds, and financial coaching.

The new nonprofit CASH Campaign of Maryland is a merger of the Maryland CASH and the Baltimore CASH Campaigns. They combined in 2017 to become the CASH Campaign of Maryland advocating on behalf of individuals and families, helping them to maximize their financial future by offering educational programs, asset building services, and outreach connecting clients to wealth creation resources across Maryland. The CASH Campaign is now Creating Assets, Savings and Hope for all Marylanders.

FREE TAX PREP SITES IN BALTIMORE & ACROSS MARYLAND: There are 13 sites in Baltimore City and 3 sites in Baltimore County this tax season where highly trained IRS-certified volunteers will prepare and electronically file (e-file) both federal & state taxes for FREE for eligible taxpayers. People are urged to go on-line at www.bmorefreetaxes.org or call 410-234-8008 now to set up appointments. The 16 sites are located in Central Baltimore, South Baltimore, East Baltimore, North West Baltimore and also Randallstown, Towson & Catonsville in Baltimore County so there’s a site convenient to just about everyone. Some of the City sites are in Community Action Centers.(**Baltimore-area sites at the end of this press release)
Outside of the Baltimore area, Marylanders are urged to go online to find a FREE tax prep location near you. Visit www.cashmd.org sites or call 1-800-492-0618 to make an appointment. Highly trained IRS-certified volunteers will prepare and e-file taxes for FREE for eligible families and individuals across the state of Maryland, from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore to the DC suburbs to Southern Maryland.

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