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 (or 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 for those whom paid professional assistance may be out of reach, those who are non–English speaking, persons with disabilities, those with a low to fixed 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. To locate the nearest American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) tax aid site, visit AARP's Internet web site at www.aarp.org/money/taxaide

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. 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.

If you plan to take advantage of any of the volunteer assistance programs, be sure to bring social security cards for you and all your exemptions, and your current year's tax package and/or label; all forms, W–2's and 1099's; information for other income; information for all deductions/credits; and a copy of last year's tax 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.