(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – In 2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its volunteers helped return $1.4 million in refunds to Ohio families and helped many of those families access tax credits they didn’t know they could receive. This year, the hospital is continuing to partner with United Way of Central Ohio’s Tax Time Program in hopes of returning more dollars to families.
Since the Tax Time program’s inception in 2007, volunteers have prepared more than 163,000 returns, returned over $176.4 million in refunds, and saved clients $33.5 million in tax preparation fees.
Nationwide Children’s, through its Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative, and United Way, through its Tax Time initiative, are offering tax preparation assistance with certified volunteers throughout tax season and are teaming up to host a Super Saturday free tax preparation event on Feb. 25. The goal of the event, taking place at Nationwide Children’s Education Building, is to prepare 100 tax returns in one day in one space. Appointments are required, and free childcare will be available for families during their appointments.
“A family’s financial situation can directly impact a child’s health,” said Nick Jones, vice president of community wellness at Nationwide Children’s. “Tax preparation can be expensive and confusing. When we help families maximize their tax refunds, they have more money to buy healthy foods, pay for housing, or cover childcare costs. This provides families more dollars to give their kids what they need to grow up to be healthy adults.”
Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families is committed to investing in community health and improving individual health outcomes by improving access to affordable housing, education, health and wellness, community enrichment and economic development. Tax preparation assistance, as part of the economic development investment, has helped hundreds of families access tax credits they earned, but had previously left on the table. This can amount to thousands of dollars that can help cover crucial expenses.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s tax clinics started in 2019, in partnership with United Way. These efforts bolster United Way’s longstanding tax assistance program, which helped provide more than $9.6 million in refunds to clients in 2022.
“By partnering with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, our Tax Time program can grow and flourish, providing necessary tax preparation support for more families,” said Lisa Courtice, CEO and president of United Way of Central Ohio. “By standing united with one of our community’s premier health organizations, there is nothing we can’t achieve. We know Super Saturday is going to be a huge success.”
How to schedule free tax preparation appointments
- Super Saturday (Feb. 25): Free tax services provided by certified tax preparers are available at the Super Saturday event for households whose total income in 2022 was $60,000 or less. Appointments are required for Super Saturday and can be scheduled online at liveunitedcentralohio.org/agency/tax-time/ or by calling 211 weekdays (choose option 4) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Super Saturday will take place at Nationwide Children’s Education Building, 575 S. 18th St., Columbus.
- Nationwide Children’s 614 File Free: Appointments are available weekdays at five different locations throughout tax season. Appointments can be scheduled online at 614filefree.org. These free services are available for central Ohio residents whose household annual income is below $65,000.
- United Way Tax Time: Appointments can be scheduled at more than 20 locations across Franklin County and surrounding counties as well as virtually. Those appointments can also be scheduled online at liveunitedcentralohio.org/agency/tax-time/ or by calling 211. These free services are available for central Ohio residents whose household annual income is below $60,000.