The IRS sponsors volunteer assistance programs and offers help to taxpayers
in many community locations.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (or VITA), offers
free tax help by trained volunteers if you qualify. VITA sites are
located at convenient community locations, and volunteers provide free basic
income tax return preparation to individuals with incomes of $35,500 and below.
Volunteers prepare Form 1040A(PDF), Form 1040EZ(PDF), and Form 1040(PDF) with Form 1040, Schedule A&B(PDF).
Trained community volunteers can help you with special credits, such as
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly
for which you may qualify.
In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, many VITA sites
offer free electronic filing (e-file). Individuals taking advantage
of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time
compared to returns filed on paper — even faster if you have your refund
deposited directly into your bank account.
Learn the locations, dates, and hours of the volunteer sites, by calling
the IRS toll-free at (800) TAX-1040 or (800) 829–1040.
Another program, Tax
Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE), is a grant program designed to
offer free tax assistance to individuals age 60 years or older with low
to moderate income. TCE sites are located at convenient community locations.
TCE counselors offer free income tax return preparation services
to the taxpayers 60 and older, and can prepare Form 1040, Form
1040A, Form 1040EZ, Form 1040 Schedules A&B, and
simple Form 1040, Schedule D(PDF). The American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP), participates in the TCE program. To
locate the nearest AARP office, visit their web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide/home.htm
or call 1–888–AARPNOW or (1–888–227–7669). To
locate the nearest TCE site call the IRS toll-free at 1–800–TAX-1040
or 1–800–829–1040.
If you plan to take advantage of any of the volunteer assistance programs,
be sure to bring photo identification as well as social security
cards for you and all your exemptions, your current year's tax package and/or
label; all forms, W–2's and 1099's; information for
other income; information for all deductions/credits; and a copy of last year's
tax return, amounts paid for day care, and bank routing numbers if your are
expecting a refund and choose direct deposit.
You can get free telephone assistance by calling 1–800–829–1040.
When calling this number, you may ask questions to help you prepare your return,
or ask about a notice you may have received. In certain areas, IRS has local
offices you may visit to receive assistance.
The Community Outreach Tax Education Program offers free tax seminars
to groups of people sharing common tax interests. IRS employees or trained
volunteers conduct tax information seminars at convenient times and places
in the community. The seminars can cover a variety of topics tailored to the
needs of your organization's members and may include films or videotapes and
discussion of tax questions.
For information on VITA, TCE, and Community Outreach locations and times,
or to volunteer for any of these programs, call 1–800–829–1040.
