Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income(generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own taxreturns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizationsreceive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communitiesacross the country. VITA sites are generally located at community andneighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and otherconvenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)

The Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program provides free tax help topeople age 60 and older. Trained volunteers from non-profitorganizations provide free tax counseling and basic income tax returnpreparation for senior citizens. Volunteers who provide tax counselingare often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizationsthat receive grants from the IRS.

As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aidecounseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during thefiling season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer-counselorshelp people of low-to-middle income with special attention to thoseaged 60 and older.

For more information on TCE call 1-800-829-1040. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP-TaxAide site.

Military personnel and their families get free tax help!

The military also has a strong Volunteer Income Tax AssistanceProgram. The Armed Forces Tax Council consists of the tax programcoordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and CoastGuard. The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programsworldwide and serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS tomilitary personnel and their families.

Airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, and guardsmen and their familiesworldwide receive free tax preparation assistance at offices withintheir installations. These VITA sites provide free tax advice, taxpreparation, and assistance to military members and their families.They are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues,such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the new Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)  guidelines. The military tax programs generated nearly 287,644 electronic 2006 federal income tax returns.

Commanders support the program by detailing service members toprepare returns and by providing space and equipment for tax centers.The IRS supports these efforts by providing tax software and bytraining service members to prepare taxes at the military sites.

Most service members file their tax returns electronically at theirtax centers and, by selecting direct deposit, receive their refunds inas little as one week. This combined effort ensures that servicemembers receive free tax assistance from well-trained and equippedmilitary tax preparers.

Items taxpayers need to bring to the VITA/TCE Sites to have their tax returns prepared

• Proof of identification
• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
• Current year’s tax package if you received one
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit
• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number)

To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.