Free Tax Preparation Services in Your Community
January 10, 2017
Note from OKC APA: This is a great service for employees with lower incomes or in more recession prone locations and fields.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, have disabilities, are elderly or have a limited English proficiency, and who need help preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free, basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
In addition to VITA, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors. The IRS certified volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with nonprofit organizations.
VITA and TCE sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations across the country.
At select tax sites, people also have an option to prepare their own basic federal and state tax return for free using web-based tax preparation software with an IRS-certified volunteer to help guide them through the process. This option is only available at locations that indicate Self-Prep in the site listing.
At a limited number of select sites, people can get help using Virtual VITA/TCE. Virtual VITA/TCE uses video chat software and secure file sharing technologies to connect taxpayers with IRS-certified volunteers in different geographic locations.
To locate the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800- 906-9887. You can also use the IRS2Go app to find a site near you.
Please note that when using the locator tool, you will exit IRS.gov and open Google Maps to get directions to a specific location.
A majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program. To locate the nearest AARP TCE Tax Aide site between January and April, use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888-227-7669.
Before going to a VITA or TCE site, see Publication 3676-B for services provided and check out the What to Bring page to ensure you have all the required documents and information the volunteers will need to help you. *Note: available services can vary at each site due to the availability of volunteers certified with the tax law expertise required for your return.
Tools Available at IRS.gov:
