SaveFirst

Every tax season, America's hardest-working families rely on their tax refund to support their children by helping to pay down debts and put food on the table. Unfortunately, they face exorbitant, negligent, and sometimes fraudulent preparers that cost our communities millions in fees. SaveFirst provides free tax preparation services and meaningful opportunities for savings.

 

Free Tax Prep Here!

  • Free Tax returns prepared for families during 2019:
  • 13,412
  • Tax refunds claimed by SaveFirst families during 2019:
  • $21.7M
  • Our IRS-certified student volunteers ensure families receive all benefits to which they are entitled.
  • Fees saved by families using SaveFirst in 2019:
  • $5.3M
  • These extra savings make a tremendous difference in helping hard-working families secure health insurance, pay down debts, and even put food on the table.
  • # of SaveFirst volunteers in 2019:
  • 612
  • Many student volunteers are surprised to learn how hard working low-income families are. Through SaveFirst, they gain a whole new perspective.
  • Total returns prepared for families since 2007:
  • 90,279
  • Total tax refunds claimed by SaveFirst families since 2007:
  • $154.2M
  • Total fees saved by families using SaveFirst since 2007:
  • $31.5M
  • Total # of volunteers since 2007:
  • 6,739

Stats by state: AL / TN / SC

Click Here for Free Tax Prep

Most nonprofit and service organizations gather support from potential volunteers and donors by utilizing media and stories about the people they serve. And the media that have proven most effective tend to portray disadvantaged populations as helpless victims, and their benefactors as saviors. The imagery and tone, whether intentional or not, can be extremely condescending, and can deepen the pervasive sense of "otherness" that perpetuates many of our social ailments.

We hope our films will inspire those who watch them to develop a more nuanced understanding of these hard-working families living at or near the poverty line.

Hear from some of our SaveFirst volunteers and Service Members in these short videos.

What to Expect at a SaveFirst Tax Site

Our SaveFirst tax sites have friendly, IRS certified tax preparers who are trained to prepare an accurate tax return for free.

What to Bring to a SaveFirst Tax Site

Headed to a SaveFirst tax site this Spring? Watch this video to make sure you have all the right paperwork to ensure an accurate return.

How to Look out for Predatory Tax Preparers

SaveFirst exists as an alternative to exorbitant, negligent, and sometimes fraudulent preparers that cost our communities millions in fees.

A $500 contribution means 50 families receive free tax preparation services, saving them more than $45,000 in commercial preparation fees.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is the federal government's largest antipoverty program, aimed at lifting families—especially those with children—above the poverty line. However, many who do not have the resources or knowledge to file their own taxes rely instead on costly commercial tax preparers, collectively losing millions of dollars owed them by the EITC. That extra money could have made a tremendous contribution to helping lower-income families secure health insurance, pay down debts—and even put food on the table.Moreover, because there are no national standards or licensing procedures for commercial preparers, many set up shop in low-income communities and take advantage of hard-working families by preparing negligent, and sometimes fraudulent, returns. And ultimately, it's the families who are on the hook for any mistakes. SaveFirst is dedicated to protecting these families' tax refunds—the largest check that some could receive all year.

Interested in Getting Your Taxes Prepared for Free?

Impact America provides free tax preparation services for households earning up to $60,000. Services are provided by IRS-certified Volunteer Tax Preparers from local colleges in the cities where our tax sites are located.

Learn more and schedule an appointment >

Nondiscrimination Policy >


SaveFirst

SAVEFIRST COLLABORATORS

We are proud to be a partner agency for Junior League of Birmingham volunteers and financial support.  JLB volunteers provide an especially high level of professionalism and expertise at our tax sites.

We are excited to again partner with the Junior League of Montgomery which provides SaveFirst with volunteers and financial support. JLM volunteers help keep our tax sites staffed at the highest level!

We are proud to be a partner agency with the Junior League of Memphis and are excited to have its members volunteer with SaveFirst.

Fox 6, the most highly rated and watched television network in central Alabama, is our primary media sponsor of SaveFirst in Birmingham and surrounding communities.

WHNT is our primary media partner in Huntsville, Decatur, Florence and other North Alabama markets.

WSFA is our primary media partner in Montgomery and Central Alabama markets.

Local 15 is our primary media partner for SaveFirst advertising in Mobile and Pensacola.

WMC Action 5 serves as our media sponsor for SaveFirst in Memphis.

Impact Alabama's Huntsville tax preparation site is co-sponsored and co-coordinated by the United Way of Madison County.

Impact America - South Carolina is proud to partner with SC Thrive to not only operate our free tax preparation sites but also to assist families in applying for a wide range of local and federal benefits.

MAJOR SAVEFIRST FUNDERS

We are so grateful to the companies and foundations who support SaveFirst across our footprint.

Impact America is an AmeriCorps Program.