I’ve received a bunch of questions this tax season asking where to go for free help. And I’ve got some answers for you. But, first things first: sometimes, you get what you pay for. If your return is a bit complicated – or if your situation is out of the ordinary – take a moment to consider hiring a paid preparer.
Please remember that many of these free options rely on (1) your ability to make sense of your own financial information and (2) volunteers who are trained to assist in completing basic returns. If you struggle with numbers or if your return includes a Schedule C, Schedule E or the word “depreciation” – maybe these options aren’t for you.
Get your own forms. This year, the IRS is not mailing forms to you. If you’re a traditionalist, you’ll need to order a paper tax form by phone (call 1-800-829-3676) or pick up one at your post office. You can also download tax forms from the IRS web site.
Fill-In Forms. Free File Fillable Forms are blank versions of IRS forms. With Free File, you can pick and choose your necessary schedules; fill in your tax information online; do some basic math; and then print your return and mail or e-file. Easy peasy – assuming that your return isn’t complicated.
Free Tax Software. If you didn’t win the CompleteTax tax software in our tax trivia game, you’ve got one more chance to win free tax software this week. Keep checking. But if you’re desperate to get started before then, consider using one of the free tax software packages available through the big providers like CompleteTax, TurboTax and H&R Block. Keep in mind that these are basic, basic returns – of your 1040EZ variety.
If your return is simple, you can also file through I-Can E-File. With I-Can, you can e-file a federal return (with some limitations) as well as state returns for California, Michigan, Montana, New York, or Pennsylvania.
If your AGI is $57,000 or less for 2009, you can use Free File. With Free File, you can e-file or file an extension with the click of a mouse.
If you made less than $58,000 in 2009, then you can file for free online with My Free Taxes, sponsored by the Walmart Foundation.
Walmart Foundation and One Economy is also offering free in person services via a traveling tax service. You can find out when they’ll be pulling up in your town here.
You may also qualify for free in person services through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). VITA offers free tax help to those taxpayers who make around $49,000 or less. The rules from center to center can vary, so be sure and check the criteria before you arrive. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1.800.829.1040.
The military also offers a VITA program through the Armed Forces Tax Council. The volunteers at these centers are trained to deal with issues that might affect the military and their families such as EITC and combat zone tax benefits. Call 1.800.829.1040 for more information or to locate a center near you.
The AARP Tax-Aide program is a great alternative for taxpayers aged 60 or above with simple returns. Generally, this means a form 1040 with Schedules A and B only, offered at approximately 6,500 locations nationwide in senior centers, libraries, community centers, and at other convenient locations. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, visit their web site. And as last year, I don’t make the rules – I don’t know who decided that 60 = senior.
Some cities and states offer free tax help, as well. Chicago has announced that families earning less than $45,000 and individuals earning less than $20,000 can get free tax preparation assistance through the Tax Counseling Project and the Tax Assistance Program. To find a location near you, in Chicago, call 311. Outside Chicago, local residents can call 312-409-1555 or 312-630-0273.
I’ll continue to post info as I become aware of it – and feel free to add your own in the comments.
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
You can also do an online free tax site search at http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/taxed/sites/Default.aspx
This year Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (www.jacksonhewitt.com) has joined the ranks of offering online tax prep. The basic federal tax preparation is free.
Massachusetts has added a very nice question-and-answer online method of filing state returns this year. All you need is your completed federal return, and the related paperwork (W2, 1099, etc.). It’s incredibly easy to use — easier than the MA paper forms. And, did I mention. it’s FREE?
Kelly,
As an AARP volunteer, I just wanted to make a few corrections to your post. We not only do Sched A&B, but also C-EZ, SE, EIC, and D (not to mention all of the forms to support the adjustments, payments, and credits for Form 1040). Because we are trained and certified by the IRS, we cannot limit our clients to seniors only. We have to take all comers as long as we’re qualified to complete their returns (I’ve done a return for a young couple with an AGI of $124,000!).
We like to focus on seniors and lower-income taxpayers, but we’re not allowed to discriminate on age or income.
Thanks Melody!
I was a VITA volunteer/site coordinator at our local senior center and we very definitely had income restrictions, as well as a scaled back list of schedules. The IRS web site also limits income to “generally $49,000″ for VITA.
The AARP web site claims that those 60 and above get “special attention.” I will say, having volunteered, that I do believe that free tax assistance should be limited to those with “simple” returns. While volunteers are trained, many of those that I have worked with over the years were really just doing their best on the simple returns. The more complicated returns were just not appropriate in most cases.
I would offer that some VITA sites are more suited to work with advanced returns than others. I manage a site on a university campus, and we have the students train all the way to advanced with follow-ups and more testing. We are well capable of handling anything within the scope of VITA.
Andrew,
So true. I’m LC/ERO at an electronic site and LC at a paper site. Toward the middle of tax season, we get some REALLY complicated returns (Sched D’s where the taxpayer doesn’t know his basis – or even what a basis is), C-EZ’s, etc, etc. Imagine doing one of these by paper when you have one hour alotted to do the return. The others at your site have to pick up the slack while you’re tied up (on the phone with banks, mutual fund people, etc. and painstakingly filling out all of the paperwork — even worse for DRIPs). That’s why everyone in our district trains and certifies to the advanced level.
Still, I like the paper site. I still think that if you only work at a computer site, you lose your edge on tax returns, and it can become something akin to “garbage in-garbage out.” I’m sure many ERO’s will disagree, just my opinion.