The Internal Revenue Service has announced that more than 12,000 free tax preparation sites are open for service. The free tax help sites are part of the IRS’s effort to expand its partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations providing vital tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income and elderly taxpayers.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $49,000. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.

The benefit of the visiting the free tax help sites is to take advantage of their free tax preparation programs and learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is one of the federal government’s largest benefit programs for working families and individuals. But taxpayers must file a tax return, even if they do not have a filing requirement, and specifically claim the credit to get the benefit.

Taxpayers need to present the following items to have their returns prepared:

• Photo identification
• Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents
• Birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
• 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 EITC, Child Tax Credit or Credit for the Elderly. Also, many sites have language specialists to assist people with limited English skills. To locate the nearest VITA site, taxpayers should check the VITA site List available online at www.IRS.gov or call 1-800-906-9887.

As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 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.

For more information about the location of an IRS free tax help site near you check the VITA site list. For additional tax help, tax tips, tax facts and answers to your tax questions visit the IRS website

source: irs.gov