Free File Alliance members will demonstrate free tax software Thursday at HOPE Global Forum in Atlanta
ATLANTA, GA & WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 13, 2016) – The Free File Alliance – a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free federal tax services to low and moderate-income Americans – today announced a new partnership with Operation HOPE, a global non-profit organization providing financial literacy empowerment and economic education.
The new partnership with Operation HOPE will focus on raising awareness of the Free File program among low-to-middle-income and underserved communities nationwide. The Free File program – a partnership between the Free File Alliance and the IRS – offers 70 percent of taxpayers free access to brand name tax software to prepare and e-file their federal tax returns.
As part of the new partnership, Free File Alliance member companies will demonstrate their free tax software on Thursday, January 14, in Atlanta at the 2016 HOPE Global Forum, an annual event hosted by Operation HOPE.
“The Free File program has provided nearly $1.4 billion in free tax software over the last 13 years,” said Tim Hugo, executive director of the Free File Alliance. “One of the Free File Alliance’s primary goals is to strengthen and grow our ground-breaking program in order to reach more taxpayers, especially low-income and underserved Americans who need our services the most. Operation HOPE has brought financial literacy to millions of people, and by joining together, we can reach even more Americans in need of free tax services.”
“Operation HOPE is pleased to partner with the Free File Alliance to make essential tax preparation resources and assistance available to underserved Americans across the country,” Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant said. “We’re excited to showcase these free taxpayer services that will help make filing tax returns faster, safer and easier.”
WHO: Operation HOPE and Free File Alliance
WHAT: Software Demonstration & Education Session
WHEN: Thursday, January 14 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
WHERE: 2016 HOPE Global Forum
The Atlanta Marriott Marquis (265 Peachtree Center Avenue; Atlanta, GA 30303)
About the Free File Alliance
The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies, has partnered with the IRS since 2003 to help low and middle-income Americans prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns online. Since 2003, the Alliance has provided over 46 million free returns to the U.S. taxpayers. The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of taxpayers free access to industry-leading online tax preparation software. For more information, visit www.freefilealliance.org.
About Operation HOPE, Inc.
In 2015, Operation HOPE received a 4-star charity for transparency and accountability by the prestigious nonprofit evaluator, Charity Navigator, establishing it as a best-in-class organization. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has promoted financial dignity through financial literacy and educational tools in underserved communities. Through its core portfolios, the organization has provided youth and adult financial literacy, encouraged economic preparedness and digital empowerment, promoted homeownership, and assisted with foreclosure prevention to more than 2.6 million individuals, families, and small-business owners. It is currently focused on Project 5117, a multi-year initiative that will track and increase business role models for youth, boost credit scores for adults, and empower underserved communities, as a part of its “silver rights” mission to make free enterprise work for everyone.
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