FREE TAX PREPARATION OFFERED AT FINANCIAL SUCCESS CENTERS
IN MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES
Qualifying Households and Individuals May Also Benefit from Earned Income Tax Credit
In partnership with Fulfill (formerly, The FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties), United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is offering free personalized tax preparation at Financial Success Center (FSC) Network locations in Freehold, Long Beach Island and Toms River. Financial Success Centers provide free, comprehensive resources under one roof to help people move from financial difficulty to economic well-being.
One way the Financial Success Center Network helps struggling workers in our community is by connecting them with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, certain requirements must be met and a tax return must be filed, even if you do not owe any tax or are not required to file. In 2019, Fulfill helped 4,500 households file their taxes for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This resulted in over $7.8 million in State and Federal refunds for participants, including $2.4 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
Monmouth and Ocean County households earning $56,000 or less, or individuals earning $35,000 or less, are eligible for free tax preparation by IRS certified tax professionals from Fulfill. Appointments are available at the following Financial Success Centers from January 31 through April 15, 2020:
FSC Freehold
Tuesday – Friday 12-7pm, Saturday 10am-3pm
Hackensack Meridian Community Resource Center, Freehold Raceway Mall, First Floor Macy’s Wing
3710 Route 9, Freehold, NJ 07728
FSC Long Beach Island
Virtual Tax Site, By Appointment Only – Call 609-494-8861 x116
St. Francis Community Center (LBICC)
4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township, NJ 08008
FSC Toms River
Monday, Tuesday 9 – 5pm, Wednesday 11-6pm
The B.E.A.T. Center
1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753
To make an appointment at the FSC Freehold or Toms River, or other sites throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties, dial 2-1-1 and press 27 at the prompt, or schedule online at fulfillnj.org. If your household earns $66,000 or less, you can also file your taxes online for free at myfreetaxes.com.
The FSC Network is celebrating the one year anniversary of its expansion to ten locations throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties. Free services are provided in Bayville, Eatontown, Freehold, Keansburg, Long Beach Island, Manahawkin, Neptune, Red Bank, South Toms River and Toms River. The FSC Network is a partnership of nine organizations: Affordable Housing Alliance, Child Care Resources of Monmouth County, Fulfill, Mental Health Association of Monmouth County (MHAMC), Monmouth County Workforce Development Board, Navicore Solutions, Social Community Activities Network (SCAN), St. Francis Community Center (LBICC) and UWMOC. Services include ways to manage your money, increase income, find a better job and improve housing.
For more information about free tax preparation and other services that the Financial Success Center Network offers, please visit uwfinancialsuccess.org.