IRS Offers Free In-Person Tax Prep
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Tax season can be a stressful time for many Americans, but the Internal Revenue Service is making an effort to lend a hand by providing free in-person tax prep from certified volunteers to moderate- to low-income taxpayers.
Anyone who made $50,000 or less last year can get help in preparing a basic return through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The program also provides information on special tax credits those people may qualify for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. Taxpayers who meet the income requirements can call 1-800-906-9887 or visit the IRS website to find a VITA site in their local community.
Taxpayers 60 and older can also get free assistance through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program, whose volunteers specialize in questions about pensions and retirement issues unique to seniors. Interested seniors can call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the IRS website to find a participating site near them.
The IRS is also offering taxpayers without computers the opportunity to file a simple return at a participating tax preparation site. You can find the list of documents you need to bring to take advantage of this on the IRS website.
Taxpayers can also get free assistance if they choose to file their taxes online. Check out this MainStreet roundup for a complete guide to free tax tools!
—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.
