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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Fixing Third Avenue, One Step At A Time
New lighting is part of a broader effort to revitalize the street
Third Avenue has long been the scourge of downtown Seattle. It’s been sketchy for at least the better part of two decades. It may not seem like much, but festive lighting has been installed along the “Spark Block,” between Stewart and Pine streets on Third Avenue. The enhancement includes striking catenary lighting and builds on…
Saying Goodbye to Barney
Seattle’s oldest harbor seal, the first born at the Aquarium, leaves behind nearly 40 years of memories
The aquarium and the city have lost a good friend. Barney, the Seattle Aquarium’s longtime harbor seal, has passed away at the age of 39 — roughly the equivalent of a centenarian in human years. He was the first harbor seal born at the Aquarium in 1985. He was also one of the oldest harbor…
Gratuities Have Reached a Tipping Point
Washington residents are among the least generous in the country
How much do you tip? How much should you tip? Maybe you don’t tip at all? The average tip in Washington state is 17.51% of the check, about 1.3% below the national average. Only California residents tip less, 17.4%. TradingPedia surveyed more than 2,000 adults exploring tipping behaviors across the United States in late February,…
In This Issue: Second Homes; A Crazy Decade; Aging Well.
Seattle magazine’s latest issue is on shelves now
The new issue of Seattle magazine has arrived! You’ll find it at bookstores, grocery stores, and anywhere you pick up magazines. This edition takes a look at second homes — why people are drawn to them and what they mean for the region. There’s a certain romanticism about second, or vacation homes. They provide escape…