Seattle Culture
New Filing Fix Can Help Tame Your Taxes
Free site aims to untangle tax questions
By Rob Smith February 15, 2025
For many, filing taxes is akin to deciphering an ancient cryptic scroll.
A new website is here to help. MyFreeTaxesWA.org connects Washington residents with IRS-certified volunteer tax professionals who can offer in-person or virtual tax help. As the name implies, it’s a free service and is available in multiple languages.
The effort is funded through the state Department of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project and is administered by the United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, the regional trade association representing 30 United Way chapters in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The initiative seeks to “help populations most affected by the war on drugs build financial security and create long-term economic stability for themselves and their families,” according to a release.
The site also features a free screening tool, called Benefit Kitchen, that helps state residents determine their eligibility for a variety of 19 aid programs.
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Microsoft Awards $5M Worth Of Grants To AI innovators
The grants are part of the company’s 50th anniversary this year
Microsoft has given 20 organizations $50,000 each as part of its AI for Good grants program. The grants — part of an initiative to celebrate Microsoft’s 50th anniversary this year — recognize organizations for their innovations in artificial intelligence. The organizations — who applied for the grants earlier this year — receive resources to help…
Seattle Commute Survey Shows More Office Activity
Both transit travel and driving trips are on the rise
Downtown Seattle foot traffic still isn’t nearly what it was prior to the pandemic, but more people are commuting to offices on a regular basis. The 2024 Commute Seattle Survey finds that both transit travel and drive-alone trips are on the rise as remote working drops. Citywide, the percentage of people reporting that their jobs…
Seattle Pride Seeks Support As Sponsorships Dry Up
The nonprofit has launched a fundraising campaign to make up for a $350,000 deficit
For Patti Hearn, no amount is too small. Every little bit helps. Hearn, executive director of Seattle Pride, is working feverishly to bridge a $350,000 fundraising gap because of shifts in corporate sponsorship. Seattle Pride — a nonprofit foundation that produces the annual Seattle Pride Parade and a slew of other events, including Seattle Pride…
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Washington lawmakers propose doubling beer and wine taxes
You might be paying significantly more for your pint next year. House Bill 2079, introduced by Representative Lauren Davis (D–District 32), would raise the tax on beer from $4.78 to $9.56 per barrel for most breweries. The bill also proposes doubling taxes on wine from 1 cent to 2 cents per liter and increasing taxes…