What the IRS Wants You to Know About Getting Tax Help
The IRS wants you to file your taxes, but they do not want it to be an unnecessary burden.
Two IRS sponsored programs, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free tax help to specific groups of taxpayers.
VITA is available for taxpayers who earned less than $49,000 and most locations offer free electronic filing.
TCE is for taxpayers who are 60 and over.
There are more than 12,000 free tax preparation sites nationwide.
VITA site information is available by calling the IRS toll-free number 1-800-906-9887or at the IRS website.
The IRS continues make these services more readily available by expanding its partnerships with community and nonprofit organizations that perform tax preparation services.
For example, in conjunction with the TCE program, the Tax-Aide free tax preparation program is available at over 6,000 sites.
At these sites, Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and certified to provide assistance to taxpayers with low-to-moderate income, paying special attention to those 60 and older.
To locate the nearest Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669.
Community volunteers in these programs are trained to help specifically to help with several credits.
They focus on popular credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly.
Many sites also have volunteers who can help people who have limited English skills which may make it hard for them to understand complicated tax policy.
In addition, the IRS has partnered with the military to provide the Armed Forces Tax Council which consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
The Armed Forces Tax Council trains its volunteers in military-specific tax issues, including combat zone tax benefits.
These programs are available for military personnel and their family members.
To find out where the nearest tax assistance location is to you, check with a community organization or your local city information hotline.
The IRS posts this information on its website so that you can get the help you need to fill out your income tax return without the burden of having to pay for it.
It is extremely important that you fill out your forms correctly and include the necessary supporting documentation in order to avoid tax problems in the future.