My friend Stacey sent me a "gift" recommendation to share with everyone some recently published tax tips from the IRS. While at first this did not sound like a gift, I realized, as a CPA, I take a lot of things for granted. First, that doing your tax return is fun! Second, where to go for answers if you get stuck...or for many, WHEN you get stuck. So, today I am sharing Four Ways to Find Free Tax Help (courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service).
IRS Tax Tip 2011-41, February 28, 2011
The IRS offers free assistance by computer, telephone and in person. The IRS can also help find free tax preparation sites for those who qualify. Here are four great ways you can get the information you need to file your tax return:
1) IRS Website The IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/ is a one-stop shop for a wide array of tax information. You can even prepare and file your federal tax return – for free – through Free File, a service offered by IRS and its partners who make available free tax preparation software and free electronic filing. But you must go through IRS.gov to use Free File. Have some tax questions? Check out 1040 Central on the Individuals page for the latest news. You can even track your refund with Where’s My Refund?.
2) Taxpayer Assistance Centers When you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or by phone and you want face-to-face assistance, you can find help at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. Locations, business hours and an overview of services are available at IRS.gov. Just go to the Individuals tab and click on the link for Contact My Local Office in the left tool bar section under IRS Resources.
3) Community Resources Free tax preparation is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs in many communities. Volunteer return preparation programs provided through IRS and its partners offer free help in preparing simple tax returns for low-to-moderate-income taxpayers. For a list of the 2011 VITA sites you can visit IRS.gov, or call 800-906-9887. You may also call AARP — the largest TCE participant — at 888-227-7669 (888-AARPNOW) or access http://www.aarp.org/ to find the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site.
4) Telephone Call the IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals, 800-829-1040, to get answers to your federal tax questions. To hear pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics or check on the status of your refund, call 800-829-4477. TTY/TDD users may call 800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications. To order free forms, instructions and publications call 800-829-3676.
For more information about free services provided by the IRS, review Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services available at http://www.irs.gov/ or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
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