On Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Financial Empowerment Partnership is hosting its annual Financial Literacy Resource Fair and Mega Tax Day to help Santa Barbara County families gain access to free tax assistance, affordable banking, products, and financial literacy classes. Trained, experienced, IRS certified volunteers will provide free income tax return preparation and E-Filing for those with 2013 incomes under $58,000.
United Way’s Mega Tax Day also offers a variety of resources on how to plan and save for emergencies, college, and retirement. Participating organizations and businesses will be giving out prizes for visiting financial literacy tables. During the 2013 tax season, United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Financial Empowerment Partnership prepared approximately 2,700 returns that produced $4.7 million dollars in refunds for local residents.
At 11 a.m. a short welcome will include speakers State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson and Santa Barbara County 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal. Other elected officials expected to attend are Assembly member, Das Williams, Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, Goleta City Mayor Roger Aceves and Congresswoman Lois Capps.