On Wednesday, January 29th, Foundation Communities, along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Austin City Council Member Chito Vela and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes celebrated the start of tax season and the availability of free tax preparation assistance for Central Texans through our Prosper Tax Help program. This is the 21st tax season for the program which has aided in filing more than 331,000 returns , saving over $533,000,000 for Central Texans. You can watch video of the entire celebration below.

When more families access credits and tax refunds, that means additional money for them and importantly, millions more for the local economy. Rep. Doggett and other speakers touched on how to sign up for free, bilingual, unbiased help in filing taxes, the advantages of doing it now, and how to ensure families do not leave money on the table when filing their taxes during the 2025 season. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the EITC. Rosie Young, SPEC Area 3 Executive Director, at the IRS shared remarks to highlight the milestone.

Astrid McKinney, a veteran and government employee, spoke about the positive experiences she has had using Foundation Communities tax services for the past three years. “The Prosper Tax Help program has been a lifesaver when it comes to understanding taxes,” said McKinney. “Foundation Communities makes the process of filing taxes less intimidating and ensures everything is filed correctly. They genuinely care about helping people like me feel confident and supported. It’s an incredible service that I encourage everyone who qualifies to try.”