MARQUETTE – United Way of Marquette County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is reminding community members to plan ahead for the upcoming tax season as the IRS shifts away from issuing paper refund checks. The change will affect many local residents who rely on paper checks for their refunds.

The VITA program, which offers free tax preparation to qualifying individuals and families, serves many residents in the ALICE population — those who are working yet still struggle to afford basic needs. For these households, delays or complications in receiving tax refunds can have a serious impact on day-to-day stability.

United Way recommends residents take the following steps before tax season begins:

1. Open a checking or savings account at a local bank or credit union to ensure direct deposit access. 


2. Confirm account information early — mismatched routing or account numbers are the most common cause of 
refund delays. 


3. Be aware of other tax changes affecting 2025 returns which will all be addressed by VITA volunteers when 
preparing tax returns. 


United Way is currently organizing tax-prep sessions for this upcoming tax season. Updates about local VITA services and IRS guidance will be shared on the United Way of Marquette County website and social media channels.

For more information, visit www.uwmqt.org or contact Karen Anderson at kanderson@uwmqt.org