Earn It! Keep It! Save It!

About Us

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! is a community project of United Way of the Bay Area. The coalition provides low to moderate income households with free, quality tax return preparation and access to asset building or income support resources such as public benefits, low or no cost bank accounts or financial education. We provide free tax assistance to those with household incomes below $50,000 in 2011. We also ensure eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which can amount to as much as $5,751 per family with three qualifying children. The EITC is a sliding scale credit available to working taxpayers. Other tax credits families may be eligible for are the Child Tax Credit, Education Credits and Retirement Savings Contribution credits.

Across the Bay Area at more than 212 free tax sites, trained volunteer tax preparers are available to help individuals and families claim their maximum benefit and refund. Volunteers from all walks of life engage in their local communities to help us meet the enormous task of processing nearly 60,000 tax returns. By partnering with hundreds of community partners and other free tax preparation providers such as Tax-Aid and AARP Tax-Aide, we have grown the number of individuals and families that are now on the road to financial stability.

We estimate that between 20% and 25% of EITC eligible tax filers are not receiving this credit. These substantial tax credits can be the first step in helping families meet their every day needs, as well as save toward assets such as higher education, a first home or a new business. During the 2011 tax season, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! returned over $63 million in tax refunds to 59,984 local hardworking families and to the local economy. Over the last 9 years, the program turned a $1.5 million investment from United Way’s Bay Area Community Fund into a $273 million return for local families, seniors, individuals and our community.

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! supports United Way’s goal of helping low-income families become financially stable. The program exemplifies the innovative investments, community building and partnerships we support through our Bay Area Community Fund.

Please view our 2010 Annual Report, which focuses on the economic impact Earn It! Keep It! Save It! has had on the Bay Area since 2003.

Our 2011 report is finally available as well.