Daily Money Tip: Free tax help across the region

What's scarier than snow on St. Patrick's Day? Taxes!

Fortunately, we have some more free - yes, free - tax-filing resources, this time courtesy of the United Way.

About half of all American households earn less than $55,000

a year. To help those of us who fall in that camp, United Way partnered with MyFreeTaxes (www.myfreetaxes.com), which provides free state and federal tax-preparation and filing assistance for families earning $58,000 or less a year.

The MyFreeTaxes Partnership's online and in-person tax-preparation and filing services have helped millions of families and individuals. United Way

has more information on locations at its website (http://unitedforimpact.org/our-impact/income/tax-assistance/vita).

In Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, you can find a list of free tax-preparation sites in your area by calling the United Way affiliated hotline 211 to find out the nearest free tax-help site near you.

I called the 211 phone number and they gave me three locations nearest my zip code, which were: AARP's Philadelphia office, 1650 Market St. (phone: 267-825-9923), where you need to make an appointment. The next closest were Center City Supersite, 1207 Chestnut St., fourth floor, first come, first served, and Women in Transition, 21 S. 12th Street (phone 215-564-5301), where you also need an appointment.

Or visit these websites for more free tax-filing help in the following counties before the April 15 deadline:

Delaware County: http://freetaxhelp@delcoad.org.

Montgomery County: www.mcassetbuilding.org/taxes.php.

Philadelphia County: www.cwfphilly.org/volunteers and click the tab under "Tax Filer."

If you file yourself, don't forget the following, says Martin Abo, certified public accountant with offices in Mount Laurel, Burlington County, and Morrisville, Bucks County:

Social Security numbers. Be sure you enter SSNs for yourself and others on your tax return exactly as they are on the Social Security cards.

Filing status. There are five: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, and qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. E-filing your tax return may help you choose the right filing status.

Bank account numbers: Direct deposit is often the fast and easy way to receive your tax refund. Make sure you enter your bank routing and account numbers correctly.

Forms signed and dated. An unsigned tax return is like an unsigned check - it's invalid. Remember both spouses must sign a joint return.