Do you need help with your taxes?
Free in-person help is available for eligible taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offered at nearly 12,000 preparation sites across the country and typically focuses on tax assistance for low- and moderate-income taxpayers and the elderly. To qualify, generally, you must make $54,000 or less or fit one of the other criteria: persons with disabilities, the elderly and individuals with limited English proficiency who need assistance in preparing their taxes.
VITA centers, as well as Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) centers, are staffed with volunteers. It’s a big undertaking to be trained and spend hours assisting taxpayers with many tax questions, including credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC). I know: I used to be a VITA site volunteer.
While VITA volunteers are trained in a number of areas, they will not prepare all returns and schedules.
Specifically, VITA volunteers will not prepare Schedule C with losses, a complicated Schedule D (capital gains and losses), a form SS-5 (request for Social Security Number), a form 8606 (non-deductible IRA), form 8615 (minor’s investment income), a form SS-8 (determination of worker status for purposes of federal employment taxes and income tax withholding) and parts 4 & 5 of form 8962 (Premium Tax Credits). Additionally, they may provide limited assistance, depending on your circumstances, for the Sale of Home (form 1099-S), Self-employed Income (form 1099-MISC), Cancellation of Debt (form 1099-C), Health Savings Accounts (form 1099-SA), prior year returns and amended returns. Remember that these folks are volunteers and they have lots of taxpayers to assist. If your tax return is complicated, or if you need special assistance, you should make an appointment with a professional tax preparer.
To find the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA and TCE locator tool available on IRS.gov, download the IRS mobile app IRS2GO (more on that here) or call 800.906.9887. Keep in mind that a majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program: to locate the nearest AARP TCE Tax-Aide site between January and April use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888.227.7669.
Some centers operate by appointment, so check before just showing up.
When you arrive, you’ll want to have proof of ID for you and your spouse: if you’re filing a joint return, both spouses must be present. You’ll also want to bring Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification notices/cards for you, your spouse, and/or dependents, as well as birth dates. Make sure that you have your relevant tax records including forms W-2, 1099, and forms 1095-A, B or C (ACA Statements), as well as any information about other returns and deductions and credits. It’s also important to bring a copy of last year’s tax return if you filed. If you plan to have your tax refund direct deposited, you’ll also want to bring a proof of account.
If the site prepares prior year returns, and you have not yet filed, make sure that you have information for those prior years, forms W-2, 1099, and forms 1095-A, B or C (ACA Statements), as well as any information about other returns and deductions and credits.
