To help alleviate some of the costs associated with tax season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced resources that are available for seniors and low-income taxpayers.
Tax assistance programs can help
The IRS has free services in place to both answer questions about taxes and the filing process, as well as ways for older taxpayers and those who make a certain income to file their federal taxes for free.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is for people with disabilities, people who speak limited English, or people who make $60,000 or less.
Tax Counseling for the Elderly is specifically geared towards seniors and can help clear up any questions about pensions or retirement plans. With both programs, taxpayers can get their questions answered about filing taxes and also get assistance filing their returns.
When taxpayers utilize either service, they receive assistance from trained tax volunteers who are mandated to complete and pass a specialized training program. Additionally, any returns processed through these services undergo a thorough review to ensure that all information is accurate.
Another resource available is the IRS’ Free File. To utilize this service, taxpayers must have made $73,000 or less in 2022, and their federal return can be filed at no cost. Many providers will also assist taxpayers with their state filings through the Free File program. However, this may come with a fee depending on the provider’s policies.
Free File
Taxpayers also have the option of utilizing Free File on their own, without the assistance of a tax preparer, and the software is compatible with both smartphones or tablets.
When using Free File, taxpayers will need: their Social Security number, their wage and income information, documentation for all tax credits and deductions, bank account and routing number, and their prior year’s adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.
More information is available here.