(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – In 2023, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its volunteers helped return $1.2 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 partnering again 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 $177.2 million in refunds, and saved clients more than $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 trained volunteers throughout tax season and are teaming up to host a Super Saturday free tax preparation event on Saturday, Feb. 24, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The goal of the event, taking place at Nationwide Children’s Education Building, is to prepare 150 tax returns in one day in one space. Appointments are encouraged, but a limited number of walk-ins will be accepted based on availability. Free childcare will also be available.
“We are very proud to partner with United Way once again to provide free tax preparation for families,” said Nick Jones, vice president of community wellness at Nationwide Children’s. “A family’s financial situation can directly impact a child’s health, and when we help them maximize their tax refunds, they have more money to pay for housing, cover childcare costs, or buy healthy foods. This provides more opportunities for families to ensure their kids grow into healthy adults.”
Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families is committed to investing in community health and improving 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 arm, 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 $13.4 million in refunds to clients in 2023.
“Tax preparation can be expensive and confusing, which is why this free service is vital for the health of our community,” said Hannah Bonacci, Tax Time manager for United Way of Central Ohio. “When families receive guidance on how to file returns, they recoup money that pays for essentials like healthy food, stable housing and childcare. We are so grateful for our Tax Time partners, and we’re confident Super Saturday will be a huge success again this year.”
Each year, thousands of qualifying Americans do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on their federal income tax returns, meaning billions of dollars in much-needed refunds goes unclaimed. Super Saturday is a cost-effective way for tax filers to navigate the potentially confusing tax preparation process and ensure they are getting their full return.
“Super Saturday is just one way we help our communities thrive,” said Kenya Taylor, corporate responsibility officer for KeyBank, which will help provide tax preparation services during the event. “We are so proud to partner with United Way of Central Ohio and Nationwide Children’s Hospital once again for this event to support our neighbors who are most in need. The EITC is a benefit that many people don’t even realize they qualify for, leaving much-needed refunds unclaimed.”
How to schedule free tax preparation appointments
- Super Saturday (Feb. 24): Free tax services provided by trained tax preparers are available at the Super Saturday event for households whose total income in 2023 was $70,000 or less. Appointments are encouraged for Super Saturday and can be scheduled online at org/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. A limited number of walk-in appointments will be available.
- Nationwide Children’s 614FileFree: Appointments are available weekdays at four different locations through April 15. Appointments can be scheduled at org. These free services are available for central Ohio residents whose household annual income is below $70,000.
- 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 org/tax-time/ or by calling 211. These free services are available for central Ohio residents whose household annual income is below $64,000.