Finding Free Tax Return Preparation Services

IRS Free File: Do Your Own Taxes for Free
If your income is $72,000 or less, you may have access to free, easy to use software through Free File at IRS.gov. Several do-it-yourself options are available to file your federal and, in most cases, state tax returns. You will be able to choose from several software providers to find a program that meets your needs. Visit the IRS Free File page to view the available options.

If your income is $72,000 or more and you are very comfortable with doing your taxes yourself, the IRS offers “Free File Fillable Forms” for federal returns only. These forms are available from late January to mid-October each year. For more information, you can visit the IRS Fillable Forms page.

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IRS-Sponsored VITA & TCE Programs
The Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The Credit Union no longer participates in the VITA free tax preparation program.

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 non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.

Locate the nearest VITA or TCE site, by calling 800-906-9887 or use the VITA/TCE Locator tool to enter your zip code and find a provider near you.

Because many VITA and TCE sites are only open from January through April and the VITA/TCE locator tool provides real-time results, it is best to search this site during the tax season or when you are ready to have your tax return completed.

Most TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program. During the tax season, you can also use the AARP Tax-Aide Locator tool to search for a free Tax-Aide site.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites are only open from late January / early February to April 15th, so their locator tool is only functional during that time frame.

Miltax: Tax Services for the Military
MilTax is a Department of Defense program that generally offers free return preparation and e-filing software for all military members, with no income limit.

If you do not qualify for any of these free services, consider preparing your own return.