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, see the
IRS Assistance Map,
visit your local IRS office, or call 1-800-829-1040.
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