How to get free help filling out a tax return

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The tax service reminds taxpayers of their right to receive free assistance in preparing tax returns.

This program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - VITA) is designed for individuals with an annual income of no more than 54 000 US dollars, people with disabilities, elderly people and taxpayers who do not know English well, who need assistance in filling out their tax returns.

Volunteers who are certified by the United States Revenue Service provide free grants to individuals who meet these requirements in completing and filing a basic tax return electronically.

Along with the VITA program, there is a Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Tax Advice Program, which offers free tax assistance to all categories of taxpayers, but especially to people aged 60 and older.

The TSE program specializes in retirement matters that are of interest only to older audiences. US Tax Administration-certified volunteers who advise clients on tax issues are in many cases retirees associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the US Tax Administration.

Required documents

• Photo ID.
• Valid Social Security Cards for yourself, your spouse (s), and your dependents.
• In the event that you, your spouse (s) and dependents do not have a social security number, you can use a letter with a notification of assigning an individual tax identification number (ITIN) instead.
• Proof of the status of a foreigner if an application is submitted for obtaining an individual taxpayer identification number.
• Dates of birth of the main and minor taxpayers filing a tax return, as well as the dependents indicated in it.
• Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R with data on wages and income from work, received from all employers.
• Bank statements with information on interest and dividend statements (1099 forms).
• All 1095 Forms are Health Insurance Statements.
• The Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received.
• Copies of last year's federal tax return and state tax return, if any.
• The number of bank branches according to the classification system operating in the USA (routing number), and the number of accounts in these banks for bank transfer.
• Both spouses filing an electronic tax return jointly must be present and sign the required forms.
• The total amount spent on the maintenance of children in preschool institutions, Tax identification number of preschool institutions.
• 1095-A, B, or C Forms are “Insurance Claims under the Affordable Health Care Statements Act.
• Copies of extracts from income tax records from the United States Revenue Service and the state, if required.

Find your nearest VITA or TCE office.

Before visiting a VITA or TCE office, check out the services they offer in Publication No. 3676-B (Publication 3676-B).

Remember that each department may offer different services depending on the availability of volunteers who are certified as specialists in the field of tax legislation that you need to know when filling out your declaration.

VITA and TCE offices are usually located in the district and microdistrict centers, libraries, schools, shopping centers and other places convenient for accessibility throughout the country. To find the nearest VITA or TCE office, use the special location software (VITA Locator Tool) or call: 800-906-9887.

When searching for a TCE office, remember that most TCE offices work in the AARP Foundation's Tax Aide program locations. To find out the location of the nearest AARP TCE Tax-Aide branch from January to April, use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call: 888-227-7669.

Some tax offices also offer taxpayers the opportunity to complete basic federal and state income taxes for free through a web-based tax filing application assisted by an IRS-certified volunteer. This option is only available in branches that include the term Self-Prep in their service descriptions on their website.

Recall earlier we talked about Who must file a U.S. tax return.

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