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.

Many taxpayers aren’t aware that the Internal Revenue Service provides free income preparation for elderly and low-to-moderate income taxpayers. This free tax help is available through the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance program (VTA).

The Volunteer Tax Assistance program is an IRS sponsored, community-based volunteer program available nationwide. The tax assistance program is an IRS partnership with non-profit and community organizations who provide the free tax help and perform the free tax preparation.

To qualify for the free IRS tax help, taxpayers must specific criteria. Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about these volunteer programs.

1. The IRS sponsors both the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.
2. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $49,000. Most locations offer free electronic filing.
3. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.
4. The IRS trains community volunteers so they can help eligible taxpayers with several special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly.
5. Many volunteer sites have language specialists to assist people with limited English skills.
6. More than 12,000 free tax preparation sites are open nationwide this year as the IRS continues to expand its partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations performing these vital tax preparation services.
7. As part of the TCE program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide free tax preparation program at over 6,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteers provide assistance to taxpayers with low-to-moderate income, with special attention paid to those 60 and older.
8. The military also partners with the IRS to provide free tax assistance to military personnel and their families. The Armed Forces Tax Council consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Volunteers are trained and equipped to address military-specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits.
9. Locations and hours of operation are often available through city information hotlines and local community organizations.
10. Local VITA site information is also available at http://www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS toll-free number 1-800-906-9887. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 (888-AARPNOW) or visit www aarp.org.

Elderly and low-to-moderate income taxpayers should take advantage of the free tax preparation and tax help available through the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program.

source: irs.gov

The IRS is a very big place, and trying to get answers to your tax questions can be a daunting task. But if you know who to call at the Internal Revenue Service, you can get expert tax advice and answers to your tax questions via live telephone assistance.

Here is a list of IRS phone numbers and/or websites to get expert tax advice and/or answers to your tax questions:

For tax help and answers to tax questions for Individuals, call toll-free 1-800-829-1040, Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. your local time.

For phone assistance with tax questions for Businesses, call toll-free 1-800-4933, Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

To get answers to tax questions for Exempt Organizations, Retirement Plan Administrators and Government Entities, call toll-free 1-877-829-5500, Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

For tax assistance for Individuals who believe they may be a victim of Identify Theft, call 1-800-908-4490 (Automated and live assistance) 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 pm. your local time.

There’s live telephone assistance available to people who live outside the United States, too! The phone numbers for tax help is available at http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/article/0,,id=101292,00.html

The IRS even offers face-to-face tax assistance in certain areas. They also have local offices you may visit to get tax assistance.

Finally, the IRS offers Taxpayer Assistance Centers at locations throughout the country. The IRS will extend hours of service at selected locations from January 31 through April 9.

As a taxpayer you have a right to get expert tax advice and answers to your tax questions directly from the source – the Internal Revenue Service.

source: irs.gov