Wal-Mart Funds Free Tax Services

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Wal-Mart Foundation here said yesterday it will make a $3.6 million grant to fund a program to provide free tax preparation and filing services to individuals who earn less than $56,000 per year.

The program will be carried out in conjunction with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance campaign, sponsored by the United Way and with online tools supplied by One Economy Corp., a nonprofit organization that seeks to help low-income Americans enter the economic mainstream.

In making the announcement, Wal-Mart said the Internal Revenue Service estimates that approximately 20% of eligible individuals and families are unaware they qualify for income-tax credits, which means the grant has the potential to return $300 million. Besides the online service, One Economy will have five mobile tax center vans setting up in Wal-Mart parking lots and other sites through April 11.

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