(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – In 2024, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its volunteers completed more than 1,000 tax forms, helped return $1.8 million in refunds to Ohio families and assisted many of those families in accessing tax credits they didn’t know they could receive. This year, the hospital is partnering once again with United Way of Central Ohio’s Tax Time program in hopes of returning even more dollars to families.
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. 22, from 9 a.m. to 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 walk-ins will be accepted based on availability. Free childcare will also be available.
“We are proud to partner with United Way each year to help central Ohio families file their taxes for free,” said Nick Jones, vice president of community wellness at Nationwide Children’s. “We’ve found that this service can have an immediate, positive impact on a family’s financial situation. By helping them maximize their refunds, they will have more money to do things like pay for housing, cover child care costs or buy healthy foods to ensure their kids grow into healthy adults.”
Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families is committed to improving community health outcomes through a five-prong approach, which includes, increasing access to affordable housing, education, health and wellness, community enrichment and economic development. Tax preparation assistance, as part of the economic development prong, 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.
Since the Tax Time partnership with Nationwide Children’s began in 2019, volunteers have helped prepare taxes for more than 2,700 families and returned over $5.4 million in refunds.
"Every year, families in central Ohio leave thousands of dollars on the table simply because they don’t know they qualify for certain tax credits,” said Hannah Bonacci, Tax Time program manager for United Way of Central Ohio. “Through our partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Tax Time initiative, we ensure that more families receive the refunds they’ve earned – dollars that can go toward rent, groceries, and childcare."
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.
How to schedule free tax preparation appointments
- Super Saturday (Feb. 22): Free tax services provided by trained tax preparers are available at the Super Saturday event for households whose total income in 2024 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. Free legal advice clinic will also be available from the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio. Topics include taxes, landlord-tenant, family law, consumer rights, probate, public benefits, criminal record sealing and general legal issues.
- Nationwide Children’s 614FileFree: Appointments are available weekdays at four different locations through April 18. 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.