5 Essential Ways The Boston Tax Help Coalition Can Save You Thousands In The 2025 Tax Season
As the 2025 tax season concludes, millions of dollars in potential refunds remain unclaimed, but for Boston residents, a powerful and completely free resource is available to ensure they receive every dollar they deserve. The Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) is a crucial public-private partnership that has been the backbone of financial empowerment for low-to-moderate-income families in the city for years.
Operating throughout the 2025 filing period and beyond, the Coalition’s core mission is to broaden pathways from poverty to financial stability by maximizing the impact of key tax credits. This is not just about filing a return; it’s about accessing vital financial services, education, and coaching that can transform a household’s economic outlook. This in-depth guide, updated for the current tax year, details the five most critical ways the BTHC is helping Bostonians.
The Boston Tax Help Coalition: A Profile in Financial Empowerment
The Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) operates as the city's official Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. It is a collaborative effort designed to provide free, high-quality tax preparation services to eligible residents.
- Type: Public-Private Partnership / Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
- Primary Mission: To broaden pathways from poverty to financial empowerment by maximizing the impact of tax credits, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
- Key Partners: The City of Boston Mayor's Office (currently Mayor Michelle Wu's administration), Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), and numerous community-based organizations.
- Services Offered: Free federal and state tax preparation, multi-lingual support, financial coaching, and connection to asset-building resources.
- Eligibility (2025 Filing Season): Residents whose household income was up to $67,000 in 2024.
- Operational Footprint: Approximately 30 neighborhood tax sites across the city of Boston.
- Technology: Utilizes IRS TaxWise software for accurate, professional filing.
- Recent Recognition: Recognized Kien Lang as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year for his dedication to the program since 2012.
1. Free, Expert Tax Preparation for Low-to-Moderate Income Families (VITA)
The most direct and immediate benefit of the BTHC is its free tax preparation service. For many low-to-moderate-income (LMI) residents, the cost of a commercial tax preparer—which can range from $200 to $400—is a significant barrier.
The BTHC eliminates this expense entirely. Their services are delivered by IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers who are trained extensively on the latest federal and Massachusetts tax laws, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
For the 2025 tax season (filing 2024 returns), the Coalition set the income threshold at $67,000 for household earnings. This threshold ensures that the service reaches the families who need it most, preventing them from falling victim to predatory, high-fee tax services.
The Coalition understands that one size does not fit all. They offer multiple service models to accommodate diverse needs: in-person appointments, secure drop-off services, and remote preparation options. This flexibility is crucial for working families or those with mobility challenges.
2. Maximizing Returns through Key Tax Credits: EITC and Child Credits
The BTHC’s expertise is focused on ensuring eligible taxpayers claim all available federal and state tax credits, which are often the largest source of a family’s refund. The mission of the BTHC is explicitly tied to maximizing the impact of these credits.
The Power of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The EITC is one of the most effective anti-poverty tools in the United States. The BTHC ensures that every eligible Boston resident claims this credit. The Massachusetts state EITC provides an even greater benefit, as it is equal to a generous 40% of the federal credit for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.
This increase provides crucial support to working individuals and families. By using IRS-certified preparers, the BTHC guarantees that this complex credit is calculated correctly, putting hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars back into the pockets of working Bostonians.
Accessing the Child and Family Tax Credit
In addition to the EITC, Massachusetts offers a Child and Family Tax Credit. This credit can provide up to $440 per eligible child or adult, and critically, taxpayers can qualify even if they had no or low income in 2024. This is a critical safety net that many low-income families might miss without the assistance of a trained VITA preparer from the BTHC.
3. Connecting Taxpayers to Broader Financial Empowerment Services
The BTHC is more than a tax preparation service; it is a gateway to long-term financial health. The Coalition works closely with the City of Boston's Office of Financial Empowerment, ensuring that the tax site visit is a "teachable moment" for financial literacy.
Taxpayers who use the BTHC are often connected with free financial coaching services offered by the city. These programs help residents with:
- Budgeting and debt reduction strategies.
- Building savings and improving credit scores.
- Accessing other asset-building resources.
- Guidance on avoiding predatory loans and financial scams.
This holistic approach transforms a one-time refund into a catalyst for sustained economic mobility, aligning with models like the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) used nationwide.
4. Providing Critical Multi-Lingual and Specialized Support
Boston is a city of immigrants, and the BTHC recognizes the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate services. The Coalition provides free tax preparation in several languages to reach the significant number of Boston immigrants who are eligible for the service but may face language barriers.
Furthermore, the Coalition offers specialized accommodations for taxpayers with unique needs. For example, they provide free tax services for taxpayers who are legally blind or visually impaired, ensuring that all residents can file their returns with dignity and confidence.
5. Quantifiable Impact: Millions of Dollars Returned to the Boston Economy
The work of the Boston Tax Help Coalition has a massive and measurable impact on the city’s economy and the financial stability of its residents. The Coalition’s efforts represent one of the largest infusions of cash into the local economy for LMI families.
During the 2023 tax season alone, the BTHC prepared tax returns for 10,859 low-to-moderate-income Boston area taxpayers. This monumental effort resulted in over $17.2 million in tax refunds generated directly for the community. In the 2022 tax season, the VITA program helped return over $22 million to Boston residents.
These funds are immediately spent in local neighborhoods, supporting small businesses and helping families cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, and groceries. By providing this service, the BTHC is not only helping individuals but is also strengthening the entire economic fabric of the city, year after year.
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