How to Get Free Help With Taxes!
Posted: February 19th, 2011 | Author: Joe | Filed under: Taxes, Tips | Tags: Tax Time, Taxes, Tips | No Comments »If you need help filing your tax return, but don’t have the money to hire an account or pay for software you may be able to get the help you need for free. If you owe back taxes to the IRS, you can get help with that too for free, or less than you might think. Here are some community based services and other resources you might not know about…
Tax Clinics.
Local university law school might provide access to law students working under the guidance of licensed attorneys for a fraction of the cost of a private attorney or tax pro – maybe even for free. Fees may be dependent upon your income level, but they will likely be cheaper than going to a tax pro. Many clinics provide help for simple tax filing to settling your IRS debt for a fraction of what you owe.
Call your local university and ask if they offer tax clinics. If so, be sure to ask what income level qualifies for assistance, how long it will take to get an appointment and what kinds of fees may be involved.
The Local IRS.
Contact your local IRS office and see if you meet the minimum income requirement. Local IRS offices can help you file your current return, or an amended return for years past. BONUS: even if you don’t meet the minimum qualifying income, you can ask as many questions as you need – for free!
The IRS Help Line.
Did you know that when you find yourself knee deep in your taxes, you can phone a friend at the IRS? Well, maybe not a friend, but you can get the help you need for free. There’s no limit to the number of questions, but expect to be transferred if you have a wide range of questions since the IRS has specialists for various areas of the tax code. The number is 800-829-1040.
Taxpayer Advocate Service Office.
If you are filing taxes for a business or an individual and you have a larger, long term tax problem – other than simply filing or amending a return – then the IRS’s tax payer advocate service may be for you.
Free Tax Software.
The big tax software companies all offer a free, if limited version regardless of your income level. TaxACT, Free File and TurboTax all offer free versions, but they won’t have many of the bells and whistles for squeezing out the most of your deductions and credits and they won’t include the forms for state taxes. Still, if you have a simple, straightforward tax return and know what you’re doing it can save you time and money.
Regardless of the source you go to for your tax help, you’ll want to make sure you have the following to get the most out of your experience:
• Your W-2s for the year(s) you need help filing
• Two forms of ID, normally your driver’s license and social security card
• Bank statements
• Investment or savings accounts statements
• Mortgage statements
