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IRS provides free tax filing assistance
Many recession-weary taxpayers are trying to cut costs by preparing their own taxes this year rather than hiring experts. KPCC’s Debra Baer has some information about free tax filing assistance.
Many recession-weary taxpayers are trying to cut costs by preparing their own taxes this year rather than hiring experts. KPCC’s Debra Baer has some information about free tax filing assistance.
Debra Baer: If you make less than $42,000 a year, you qualify for free tax preparation help from VITA – the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Low-income seniors with less complicated tax returns can get help from AARP, usually with an appointment.
The Internal Revenue Service says demand is way up this year and the help is available first come-first served, so be prepared to wait.
Victor Omelczenko: We’ve been hearing that people are really lining up to get that help. We had a super Saturday recently. A lot of people turned out for that. People are coming to our IRS taxpayers assistance centers as well as visiting the VITA and AARP tax aide sites.
Baer: The IRS’s Victor Omelczenko says visits to the IRS.gov Web site are up 24 percent over last year. You can find out about tax assistance centers there. Also, there’s information about how to electronically prepare and file your taxes using professional software. It’s free if you made less than $56,000 last year.
Note: If you live in Los Angeles County and would like to find a tax assistance center, you can call 2-1-1.
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