Free Tax Help

Free Tax Help Fact Sheet -Tax Year 2011

 
Individuals qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, have options for no-cost return preparation and help claiming their EITC, including:

  • Volunteer assistance sites - more than 12,000 nationwide.

  • Free File through IRS.gov. for internet-enabled do-it-yourselfers.

Volunteer Assistance Sites


IRS-trained and certified volunteers are ready to help individuals with incomes under $50,000 and older taxpayers prepare their returns and claim the EITC they earned. IRS volunteers believe that preparing an accurate tax return is the most important aspect of providing quality service to taxpayers and have put fundamental steps in place to ensure quality.


Eligible workers can locate a volunteer assistance site by calling their community's 211 or 311 number for local services or calling the IRS at 1-800-906-9887.

Individuals visiting a volunteer assistance site for help should bring the following documents to help assistors accurately determine EITC eligibility and prepare returns:

  • Photo proof of identification
  • Social Security cards for themselves, their spouse and all dependents or Social Security number verification letters issued by the Social Security Administration
  • Birth dates for all persons listed on the tax return
  • Wage and earning statement(s) Forms W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R, from all employers
  • Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
  • Copies of their prior year federal and state returns, if available
  • Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of their refunds
  • Other relevant information about income and expenses
  • Amounts paid for day care, if applicable, and the day care provider's identifying number.

Both spouses must be present to sign joint returns.

Everyone can Free File


Individuals can go online to www.irs.gov/freefile and let Free File do the hard work by choosing either brand-name tax software or fillable forms.

Taxpayers with incomes below $57,000 2011 are eligible for a free tax software product. The software provides a step-by-step guide to quickly and accurately prepare returns and identify eligibility for tax breaks, such as EITC. Providers use the latest technology to keep tax information safe and secure.

Free File is a partnership between the IRS and approximately 20 software providers. Free File is for federal tax returns only, although some providers offer state tax preparation for free or for a fee.

Another option is Free File Fillable Forms, which is an electronic version of IRS paper forms. The forms, for federal taxes only, provide basic math function but more limited assistance than the Free File software option. Free File Fillable Forms is a good option for taxpayers experienced at doing their own federal taxes.

Taxpayers opting for direct deposit can get their refunds in as few as 10 days.

 

 Earned Income Tax Credit with "Life's a little easier with" tagline.

Last updated: 11/21/2011