The IRS now has over 12,000 free tax preparation sites open nationwide to help taxpayers.  As part of it’s campaign to help low income and senior taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service continues 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 generally to people who earn $50,000 and less. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.

Today, partners and local officials will be hosting news conferences or issuing news releases nationwide to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and their free tax preparation programs. 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 credits, such as the EITC, Child Tax Credit or Credit for the Elderly. Also, many sites have multilingual volunteers who can assist people with limited English skills. To locate the nearest VITA site, taxpayers should call 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 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.

In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, most sites use free electronic filing. An e-filed tax return means a fast refund. The IRS can generally issue refunds to taxpayers who combine e-file and direct deposit in as few as 10 days.

Taxpayers who file electronically also can opt to file now and pay later. If taxpayers owe, they can make a payment April 17, 2012, by authorizing an electronic funds withdrawal (direct debit) from a checking or savings account, paying by credit, by check or money order (made out to the United States Treasury) using Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher.

For taxpayers who want to prepare and e-file their own tax returns, there is IRS Free File. Everyone can use Free File, the free way to prepare and e-file federal taxes either through brand-name software or online fillable forms. Individuals or families with 2011 adjusted gross incomes of $57,000 or less can use Free File software. Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, has no income restrictions. For either service, taxpayers must go through www.irs.gov/freefile to access the programs.

Taxpayers also can seek free assistance at the 400 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide. Locations nationwide are listed on www.IRS.gov.

You can help members in your community by spreading the news about free tax help to the elderly and individuals who could use help with their taxes

source: irs.gov

No matter how bad things get, you can always count on the generosity of Americans to help those in need. In every American community, individuals step up to champion numerous causes by offering time, money and/or services. This year, you can help your neighbors and community by volunteering to provide free tax help.

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for individuals to help prepare tax returns during the tax filing season. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, individuals can give free tax help to low-to-moderate income taxpayers, senior citizens and those with disabilities. It’s a great way to give back to your community.

Don’t think you have the expertise to help? Think again. You don’t need previous experience because volunteers receive specialized training and can serve in other capacities beside preparing free tax returns.

In addition, the IRS provides free tax law training, e-file training and all materials need to offer free tax help to those who need it. Not opnly that, tax help volunteers can pretty much work their own hours within the guidelines. Volunteers are expected to work 3 - 5 hours per week from mid-January through the income tax deadline, which is April 17, 2012. You should also know that the sites chosen are usually in your community centers, schools, libraries and other convenient locations.

Last year, more than 88,000 Americans made a difference by providing free tax help, preparing more than 3 million tax returns.

Why not consider helping your community by offering free tax help. Not only will you be helping your community, you will truly be making a difference in someone else’s life.

Isn’t that what Americans have always been about?

More information about the Volunteer Tax program can be found at IRS.gov.

The IRS is offering free tax help to taxpayers this weekend. On Saturday, March 26, 2011, nearly 100 IRS offices will be open to help taxpayers resolve tax issues. The location of participating offices is listed on IRS.gov.

“We are opening our doors this Saturday to help taxpayers who may not have a chance to seek assistance during the work week,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. ” We are very focused on providing services to taxpayers when they want it, where they want it.”

The IRS Saturday Open House hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. IRS personnel will be on-site to provide taxpayers one-on-one tax help. More than 35,000 taxpayers attended similar events last year resolving more than 95 percent of their tax issues.

IRS personnel will provide free tax help to taxpayers by helping with tax return preparation, answering tax questions, offering tax tips and assisting in tax issue resolution.

In addition to IRS help, community organizations partner with the IRS. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs assist people who earned $49,000 or less, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs assist individuals age 60 and over with their 2010 income tax return preparation and electronic filing. Many of these sites have Saturday hours while others offer assistance at various times during the week. Taxpayers can call 800-906-9887 to locate partner sites in their area.

The IRS Saturday Open House is a great opportunity to get IRS tax help, tax tips and answers to your tax questions - for free.

Make note, the IRS expects to open on two additional Saturdays later this year.

source: irs.gov