Local Nonprofit Young & Healthy Offers Free Tax Assistance

Pasadena nonprofit Young & Healthy is offering free tax return preparation assistance to Pasadena residents. The service, available every Saturday until April 13, is part of a program called “Tax Support+” in collaboration with the California State University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The organization has been providing this free service for the past three years as part of their community service efforts. The aim is to ensure that families maximize their tax filing benefits, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which many families do not fully utilize.

Young & Healthy is more widely known for providing high-quality healthcare access to low-income school children.

Ellen Kramer, Executive Director of Young & Healthy, explained the organization’s broader mission. “While the core of our services traditionally focuses on access to pediatric healthcare, we know there is so much more we can do,” Kramer said. “We help with tax preparation, knowing that poverty is a major social determinant of health. By giving families the opportunity to benefit from the EITC, we can return more money to these hard-working families and help them provide for the health and well-being of their children.”

The EITC is a federally administered refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. The amount families can receive depends on their income and family size. Young & Healthy will assist families with gross incomes below $73,000 to determine eligibility.

Families in the Pasadena area can learn if they qualify for EITC by calling (626) 795-5166, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If found eligible, they can be scheduled for a Tax Support+ Saturday appointment.

Young & Healthy partners with a network of over 350 volunteer healthcare professionals, including physicians, dentists, and mental healthcare providers. In addition to tax preparation assistance, Young & Healthy also offers insurance enrollment and conducts trauma-responsive training sessions to empower families with the resources needed for children’s well-being.

For more information, visit www.yhpasadena.org.