WASHINGTON
— Nearly 12,000 free tax preparation sites will be open nationwide this year
as the Internal Revenue Service continues to expand its partnerships with nonprofit
and community organizations performing vital tax preparation services for low-income
and elderly taxpayers.
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $40,000. The
Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers
who are 60 and older.
Today, more than 150 of these partners
and local officials will be hosting news conferences or issuing news releases
nationwide to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit and their free tax preparation
programs. The EITC is already the government's largest cash assistance program
targeted to low-income Americans. However, not all eligible taxpayers may be aware
or claim the credit.
Taxpayers need to bring to the VITA/TCE
sites the following items:
- Photo identification
- Valid Social
Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents
- Birth dates
for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
- Current year’s
tax package, if received
- Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G,
1099-R, from all employers
- Interest and dividend statements from banks
(Forms 1099)
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns,
if available
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
- Other
relevant information about income and expenses
- Total paid for day
care
- Day care provider's identifying number
- To file taxes
electronically on a Married Filing Jointly tax return, both spouses must be present
to sign the required forms.
Trained community volunteers
can help eligible taxpayers with all special credits, such as the Child Tax Credit
or Credit for the Elderly. Also, many sites have language specialists to assist
people with limited English skills.
In addition to free
tax return preparation assistance, most sites use free electronic filing (e-filing).
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 taxpayers
have their refund deposited directly into their bank accounts.
As
part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program
at nearly 8,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified
AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special
attention to people age 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site,
call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP's Internet site.
The military
also partners with the IRS to provide free tax assistance to military personnel
and their families. The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program
coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The
AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and serves
as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families.
Volunteers are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues, such
as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the EITC guidelines.
If
taxpayers owe, they can make a payment April 15 by authorizing an electronic funds
withdrawal (direct debit) from a checking or savings account, paying by credit
(Discover Card®, American Express®, MasterCard® or VISA® Card),
or by check or money order (made out to the United States Treasury) using Form
1040-V, Payment Voucher.
