Amidst the Affordability Crisis, ABCD’s Free Tax Preparation Program Yields over $7 million in Tax Refunds for Greater Boston Residents

Special to the Regional Review

 For the third consecutive year, ABCD’s Free Tax Preparation Program secured more than $7 million in state and federal tax returns for residents of Greater Boston and the Mystic Valley during the 2026 tax season. Results of this year’s tax season supported by 48 IRS-trained Volunteer Income Tax Assistance  (VITA) preparers include completion of 3,545 federal/state completed returns totalling $7,268,505.

“These financial results are confirmation that community action is a driver of the Massachusetts economy,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. Our Free Tax Preparation Program creates buoyancy for people that are struggling through additional discretionary income, and stimulates economic activity in the communities that we serve.”

The program assists residents with tax preparation, financial education, economic stability opportunities and helps build wealth. ABCD IRS-certified tax volunteers are multilingual – fluent in eight languages including English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole and Haitian Creole. In 2026, free tax preparation services were available to:

• People who generally earned $69,000 or less in 2025

• People with disabilities

• Limited English-speaking taxpayers.

The Internal Revenue Service VITA program partners with the Boston Tax Help Coalition, of which ABCD is a co-founder. A public-private collaboration with the City of Boston and other nonprofits, the Boston Tax Coalition seeks to ensure the full participation of all Boston residents in the City’s economic vitality and future.

ABCD is also a member of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) VITA network and offers free tax preparation services in the Mystic Valley Area. Both the Boston and Mystic Valley coalitions fall under the federal VITA program.

About ABCD: A nonprofit human services community action organization, ABCD provides underserved residents of Boston and the Mystic Valley area, with the tools, support and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success. Each year, the organization serves more than 100,000 individuals, elders and families through a broad range of innovative initiatives as well as long-established, proven programs and services. For 60 years, ABCD has been deeply rooted in every neighborhood and community served, empowering individuals and families and supporting them in their quest to live with dignity and achieve their highest potential. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.