Where can I get free tax help?
Answer:
It’s tax time again. Did you know that it is possible to get free tax assistance in filing those forms?

There are a number of IRS sanctioned free resources available for general tax counsel including assistance in filing for income tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) has certified volunteers to help folks with low to moderate income (usually $39,000 or below) prepare and file their tax returns. VITA also has a partnership with the Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) to help military families with filing their taxes. Call 1-800-829-1040 to locate the VITA or AFTC Program near you.
If you are a senior citizen, there is another federal program that can provide tax counseling and filing assistance. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program, also part of the IRS, has free tax help for folks who are 60 or older. Typically TCE provides volunteers that work with local non-profits to provide local free tax assistance, but AARP has also established a partnership with TCE called Tax-Aide to provide certified volunteer counselors at over 7400 locales during tax season. To find out a location near you, call TCE at 1-800-829-1040 or AARP at 1-888-227-7669.

Be sure to ask if the VITA or TCE location you want to visit will also help you with your state tax forms. You should also ask what documents you will need to bring to avoid an extra trip and the hassle.                       

If you don’t need tax counsel but want to e-file, the IRS partners with many companies (including popular software sites like TurboTax and H&R Block) to provide free e-filing for folks with an Adjusted Gross Income of $52,000 or less. That means nearly 70% of all taxpayers can take advantage of this free e-filing offer. Visit the IRS web site   for a list of Free File Alliance Companies.

Also check with your local library. Most libraries provide tax forms and instructions free of charge, and many offer assistance and advice with tax preparation.
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written by hotmamma , April 04, 2008

I've been using one of the companies listed on the website above to do my federal tax preparation for the last two years and I have been very satisfied with their service. The company is called OnePriceTaxes and they have some of the lowest fees for e-filing that I've seen.


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