Did you know the IRS offers free programs that help seniors file their taxes? Programs such as the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program can help taxpayers 65 years of age or older get free tax assistance in their communities.
Through help from IRS-approved volunteers, seniors can learn how to interpret their tax forms, find out what counts as tax deductible income and more. Find out how to get help understanding your tax return form and prepare for tax season by looking through the slides below.
Volunteer Income Task Assistance (VITA) is a service provided by the IRS to help certain individuals prepare to file their taxes. The VITA program helps those who have limited knowledge of the English language, those who make less than $57,000 a year and those with disabilities.
This program utilizes community volunteers who are willing to help these disadvantaged groups of individuals who need assistance understanding their taxes and how they can increase their tax returns.
Similarly, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is also executed by volunteers in the community and is run by the IRS. However, the TCE program is targeted towards those who are 60 years of age or older. This special senior program is available to help senior citizens understand how to file taxes as they get older and how their age and retirement funds affect their tax returns.
Volunteers from both programs are required to pass several tests administered by the IRS before they are approved to help others with their taxes. Although all volunteers need to be approved by the IRS, the actual programs run in the community are overseen by local organizations in partnership with the IRS. These partners can be community libraries, town halls or any other location sponsored by the program.
Community volunteers are usually available during days of the week and weekends depending on the schedule of the public facility they choose to volunteer for. Volunteers often work on a set schedule, but sometimes they are only available on a need-basis and you will need to contact your local IRS partner in order to know when a VITA or TCE tac volunteer is available.
You can visit the IRS website to see where these tax assistance programs are available in your area.
By Admin –
