Teresa Thomas – Enrolled Agent
We all know about the IRS’ E-file, and how it allows you to prepare your tax returns on the Internet for free. But, there are some people who can’t take advantage of that program. Some taxpayers on the lower end of the income spectrum and some elderly taxpayers may not have access to a secure computer and don’t have the funds available to hire someone to prepare their tax returns for them.
If that is the situation you are in, and you are current and up to date with previous tax returns, you can take advantage of a free tax preparation service being offered by the IRS.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to those people who earn less than $40,000, while the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to those age 60 and older. Volunteers at these sites are trained in tax law and help prepare basic tax returns. They can also help with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly.
The IRS has nearly 12,000 of these free tax preparation sites open nationwide during the tax season. And most of them will be using free electronic filing, which will enable you to receive your refund in half the time it would take if you mailed a paper return to the IRS.
The IRS has also teamed with the military to provide free tax assistance to military personnel and their families through the Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC). Volunteers at these sites are trained address tax issues specific to military personnel, such as combat zone benefits.
For more information on these three programs, you can visit www.irs.gov.
Teresa Thomas is an Enrolled Agent and has been with JK Harris since 1999. She also worked as a tax preparer for a major tax preparation company for 25 years.
