Taxes in Whatcom County

Welcome to tax filing season 2025! On this page you’ll find information on free tax filing resources, important tax credits, and filing tips. This page is updated regularly during tax season.

Where to File for Free in Whatcom County

These IRS certified free tax preparation sites can accommodate most taxpayers. For help choosing a site that best fits your tax filing needs, call or email the tax hotline.

  • Open for free basic income tax preparation assistance for the general public.
  • Located on Western Washington University’s campus in Academic West, room 306. A map and parking information is available on their website.
  • Open Monday – Wednesday, 4:30 – 7:30pm
  • Appointments are highly recommended. To schedule an appointment, visit their website.
  • Services are available in English, Spanish, and Punjabi.

  • Located at 8251 Kendall Road, Maple Falls
  • Appointments highly recommended, call (360) 599-3944 for more information and to schedule 

  • Free tax preparation assistance offered by IRS certified volunteers through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program.
  • Located at First Congregational Church of Bellingham, 2401 Cornwall Ave.
  • Monday – Wednesday, 3:00 to 6:30pm and Saturdays 12:00 – 4:00pm
  • Walk-in only, no appointment necessary.
  • Open February 1st through April 12th.
  • For current information call (360) 474-7066.

File for Free Online

For taxpayers comfortable filing their own taxes or who prefer virtual tax preparation assistance, there are several free online options.

You can now prepare and file your own taxes directly with the IRS. Direct File only works with certain types of income. You can use Direct File if you have one or more of these types of income in 2024:

  • Income from an employer
    (Form W-2)
  • Unemployment compensation
    (Form 1099-G)
  • Social Security benefits
    (Form SSA-1099)
  • Distributions for qualified medical expenses from Health Savings Accounts
    (Form 1099-SA)
  • Interest income
    (Form 1099-INT)

You can’t use Direct File if you had other types of income in 2024. For example:

  • Unreported cash income, such as tips or alimony
  • Income that’s reported on other tax forms, such as gig work.

For more information and to get started with Direct File, visit their website.

MyFreeTaxes helps people file their taxes for free while getting the assistance they need. United Way provides MyFreeTaxes in partnership with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help filers prepare their tax returns on their own or have their return prepared for them for free.

Visit their website for more information and to see if you qualify. 

 

 

GetYourRefund is a free virtual service supported by the IRS that helps low-income households receive high quality tax filing services online. They offer the option for taxpayers to file by themselves using the free platform, or receive filing assistance virtually from an IRS certified tax preparer. 

Visit the website for more information or to get started.  

2025 Tax Guide

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ITIN Filer Resource Flyer

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Resource for ITIN Filers 

The ITIN was created by the IRS in 1996 to allow foreign nationals and other individuals who are not eligible for a SSN to comply with U.S. tax laws.

ITINs let people without SSNs pay taxes. According to the IRS, in 2015, 4.4 million ITIN filers paid over $5.5 billion in payroll and Medicare taxes and $23.6 billion in total taxes.

  • ITINs are not SSNs. The ITIN is a nine-digit number that always begins with the number 9 and has a range of numbers from 50 to 65, 70 to 88, 90 to 92, and 94 to 99 for the fourth and fifth digits. The ITIN is formatted like a SSN: 9XX-XX-XXXX.
  • Many immigrants have ITINs.People who do not have a lawful status in the United States may obtain an ITIN. But other people who are lawfully present in the country and must pay taxes, but who may not be eligible for a SSN, may also obtain an ITIN, including:
    • A foreign national legally residing in the United States who, based on number of days in the country, is filing a U.S. tax return.
    • A foreign national who is a student, professor, or researcher in the United States and is filing a U.S. tax return, but does not qualify to receive a SSN.
    • A dependent or spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
    •  A dependent or spouse of a foreign national on a temporary visa.

  • Opening a bank account. Individuals who do not have a SSN but do have an ITIN can open a bank account at many banks and credit unions. Some institutions also offer ITIN friendly lending products, though some additional fees and interest charges may apply. 
  • Applying for a credit card. For someone looking to build a credit history in the United States, applying for a credit card could be a good option. Policies vary by card issuer, and additional documentation may be needed. Many banks offer secured credit cards for ITIN holders.
  • Obtaining a driver’s license. In Washington State, an ITIN can be used instead of a SSN in order to receive a driver’s license, driver’s permit, or state identification card.
  • Applying and participating in paid internship and fellowship programs that are open to ITIN holders, including Teach for America’s Ignite Fellowships, Dream Summer Fellowships, and Parker Dewey Micro-Internships.
  • Providing proof of residency. Having a tax return filed using an ITIN is one way to show the length of time that a person has been in the United States, if needed. 
  • Applying for housing or other benefits. Certain applications will accept an ITIN or an SSN. For example, rental housing applications, the Working Families Tax Credit, or energy assistance from Puget Sound Energy. 
  • Becoming an Independent Contractor. An ITIN may be used to obtain an EIN. An independent contractor must pay self-employment tax and income tax. 

  • Applicants must fill out a W-7 application form and submit it to the IRS along with a completed tax return.
  • Applicants are required to submit documents to the IRS verifying identity and “foreign status.” The IRS has issued a list of 13 documents that will be accepted for this purpose.
  • Applicants may apply in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) which is staffed by individuals who also are authorized by the IRS to authenticate the applicant’s documents. Applicants who apply at a TAC also will be able to retain their original documents. Search for a TAC near you here.
  • Applicants can also download and submit the forms themselves, but this would require them to mail their original identity documents. 
  • Applicants can also utilize a tax preparer that is either an Acceptance Agent (AA) or a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA). However, this may mean that they have to mail their original identity documents, and/or be cost anywhere from $200-$600. 
  • When the IRS approves an application, the ITIN is sent to the applicant through the mail.

The ITIN is not an immigration-enforcement tool. The application process is designed to facilitate tax payment, and the fact that the IRS does not generally share applicants’ private information with immigration enforcement agencies is key to tax compliance.

Taxpayer privacy is an important cornerstone of the U.S. tax system. Because applicants provide the IRS with a great amount of personal information, privacy is critical.

ITINs can expire. If you did not include your ITIN on a U.S. federal tax return at least once during the past 3 consecutive tax years, your ITIN will have expired on December 31 of the 3rd year of not being used. Once you receive an ITIN, it is important that you file and pay taxes each year so that your ITIN stays valid. If you have an expired ITIN, you will need to renew it for it to be valid. View the IRS’s ITIN Expiration Frequently Asked Questions.

DACA recipients do not need to apply for an ITIN. If you have DACA or TPS and used it to get a SSN, you do not need to apply for an ITIN. You should use your SSN for all tax filing purposes, even if your work authorization expires.

Sometimes visiting the IRS office can be intimidating. A staff or volunteer is available to accompany applicants and taxpayers to help navigate questions, talk through necessary documents, and provide support. Email admin@whatcomabc.org for more information. 

Claim the Working Families Tax Credit

Applications for the 2024 tax year will open on February 1st, 2025.

People living in Washington can get up to $1,290 cash back through the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The WFTC has similar eligibility requirements to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – with a few differences. Learn more, check if you qualify, and submit an application at workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov

Still have questions about qualifying for the credit or the application process? Wondering if you already applied when you filed your taxes? 

Get help from the Department of Revenue or call the Whatcom County Tax Hotline at (360) 746-0100.

Other Important Tax Credits

Important updates and information about tax credits you may be eligible to claim.

If you work and have a low to moderate income, you may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you qualify, the credit could lower the amount of tax you owe the government, or give you a larger refund. To qualify, you have to meet a list of requirements, and have to file a tax return with the IRS, even if you don’t owe taxes for the year.

Use the EITC Assistant to see if you qualify, or learn more from the IRS here.

The Child Tax Credit helps families with qualifying children get a tax break. You may be able to claim the credit even if you don’t normally file a tax return. You can claim the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child who has a Social Security number.

To be a qualifying child for the 2023 tax year, your dependent generally must:

  • Be under age 17 at the end of the year
  • Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew)
  • Provide no more than half of their own financial support during the year
  • Have lived with you for more than half the year
  • Be properly claimed as your dependent on your tax return
  • Not file a joint return with their spouse for the tax year or file it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid
  • Have been a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien

You qualify for the full amount of the 2023 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return).

Parents and guardians with higher incomes may be eligible to claim a partial credit.

Use our Interactive Tax Assistant to check if you qualify.

Learn more about how to claim this credit here.

Additional Tax Supports

Tax information can be hard to understand in any language. It can be even harder if that information isn’t offered in the language you know best. The IRS is working to translate tax resources into more languages, and is now offering basic tax information in 20 different languages

Find answers to your tax questions from the safety of your home using IRS online tools and resources. These IRS.gov tools are easy to use and available 24 hours a day. Find more information here

It’s FREE!

  • The average tax return costs $240 but can range between $100 and $600, according to a 2014 Government Accountability study
  • No one’s offering you costly loan products with hidden fees

It’s ACCURATE!

  • IRS Certified Free Tax Prep Sites have a 94% Accuracy Rate
  • Paid Tax Preparers have a 40% accuracy rate according to the IRS. This could mean more money owed or not getting your full refund

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC) assist low income individuals who have a tax dispute with the IRS, and provide education and outreach to individuals who speak English as a second language (ESL). Learn more here.

Learn the warning signs and recovery steps for tax identity theft here

With $30,000 in prizes and 102 chances to win, SaveYourRefund gives Americans big incentives to save part of their tax refund