Small Business, Financial, and Tax Resources

Small Business Association (SBA) Resources

On the House Small Business Committee, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has made it her priority to cut red tape and make the SBA loan process easier – and she’s been working on legislation to support Southwest Washington small business owners. 

To invest in the next generation of tradespeople, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a bill that would help small businesses recruit CTE graduates and assist them in starting their own businesses. She also introduced a bill, passed by committee, that would ensure women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and small disadvantaged businesses are given a fair shot competing for federal contracts.

To help you start, run, or expand a small business, the following are some useful tools offered by the SBA:

Starting a Business:

  • If you’re interested in starting a small business, the SBA outlines initial steps to get started, and they have a Learning Center with entrepreneurship courses.

Loan Programs:

  • The SBA offers several loan programs, including 504 loans for fixed assets, 7(a) loans for financial assistance, and microloans for startup and expansion.

Government Contracts:

  • The U.S. government is looking to buy from small businesses, so you can learn about how your business can compete for government contracts and the necessary requirements.

Counseling and Workshops:

 

Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) Resources

If you need assistance with financial products and services or want to learn about your rights, the CFPB also has some helpful resources:

File a Complaint:

  • If you’ve been trying to get rid of a recurring junk fee or have a complaint about a financial product or service, you can file a complaint through the CFPB’s online form. It usually takes less than 10 minutes, and it can help bring attention to scams that other people may also be facing.

Free Credit Reports:

  • You can get a free copy of your credit report each week from each of the three main reporting companies. It won’t hurt your credit, and it’s a great way to keep tabs on your financial situation.

Medical Billing Rights:

  • If you’re being contacted about unpaid medical bills, the CFPB has a flowchart to help you understand your rights and what solutions are available.

Service Member Protections:

  • Active-duty service members and their families have rights under the Military Lending Act. You can use this chart to see what transaction fee and interest rate protections might apply to you.

Answers to Common Questions:

  • If you have other concerns, the CFPB has answers to common financial questions on their website.

 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Resources

The IRS has some helpful resources to make your tax filing process easier, speedier, and less expensive:

File for Free, Directly with the IRS:

  • Washington is one of the 12 pilot states for the new IRS Direct File tool, so you can file directly with the IRS at no cost. Learn more at directfile.irs.gov.

Free, Local Tax Prep Help:

  • If you make less than $64,000 a year, are 60 years or older, or have limited English proficiency, you may qualify for free local tax preparation help from the IRS. Learn more at irs.gov/vita.

File for Free, Through an IRS Partner:

  • If you are not utilizing the free Direct File tool and make less than $79,000, you can also file at no cost using tax preparation software providers with IRS Free File. Learn more at irs.gov/freefile.

Get Relief:

  • In the event of financial hardship or if you are facing significant delays with the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help get you relief. Learn more at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov.

Support for Service Members:

  • Service members, veterans, and eligible family members may qualify to file for free or receive free one-on-one support through MilTax.

File for an Extension:

  • You can always request an extension to avoid late penalties if you need more time to file. Learn more at irs.gov/extension.