The IRS sponsors volunteer assistance programs and offers help to
taxpayers in many of its offices and other community locations.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program,
which we call VITA, involves IRS-trained volunteers who provide free tax
assistance at community locations to individuals who need assistance with
basic income tax return preparation. VITA is aimed at those for whom paid
assistance may be out of reach, those who are non-English speaking, persons
with disabilities, those with a low income, the elderly, and other individuals
with special needs.
Another program, Tax Counseling for the Elderly,
or TCE, is designed primarily for persons 60 years or older, particularly
those who are confined to their residences or retirement communities. IRS-trained
volunteers from non-profit organizations provide free tax counseling and
basic income tax return preparation to senior citizens. Volunteers travel
to taxpayers' homes, if they are unable to come to a local TCE site. Visit
the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
tax aid site to locate the nearest TCE facility.
You can get free telephone assistance by calling 1-800-829-1040.
When calling this number, you may ask questions to help you prepare your
return, or ask about a notice you may have received. Also, in certain areas,
IRS has local offices you may visit to receive assistance.
The Community Outreach Tax Education Program offers free tax seminars
to groups of people sharing common tax interests. IRS employees or trained
volunteers conduct tax information seminars at convenient times and places
in the community. The seminars can cover a variety of topics tailored to
the needs of your organization's members and may include films or videotapes
and discussion of tax questions. This program also offers line-by-line
self-help tax return preparation for taxpayers who want to prepare their
own returns.
If you plan to take advantage of any of the volunteer assistance
programs or the self-help return preparation, be sure to bring your current
year blank income tax forms, W-2's, 1099's, a list of income and expenses,
and a copy of last year's return.
For information on VITA, TCE, and Community Outreach locations and
times, or to volunteer for any of these programs, visit your local IRS
office, or call 1-800-829-1040.
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