Help With IRS Tax Forms
IRS tax forms for individuals begin with a Form 1040 "U.S. Individual Income Tax a Return" or a variation such as the 1040A or the 1040-EZ. From the 1040, various forms and schedules are added to an income tax return depending on the type of income earned and deductions claimed during the tax year. Multiple resources are available to help complete these forms completely and accurately.
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Form Instruction Booklets
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Less complicated tax forms typically feature an instructional page printed with the actual form. Tax forms that require a lot of information or more details have separate IRS publications to guide you through the forms. These instruction publications are available on the Forms and Instructions web page on the IRS website. Search for a particular instruction booklet by entering the form name in the search box on the page and selecting "Title" before clicking find. This brings up the form and any applicable instruction booklets.
Taxpayer Assistance Centers
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Taxpayer Assistance Centers are available for taxpayers with an issue that cannot be solved via telephone calls or through the IRS website. On the IRS website, click the "Help" link and, in the left-side menu on the new page, click "Contact my local office" to find the center nearest you. The centers offer assistance with tax forms and are able to help prepare your tax return if your income is less than $49,000 or if you qualified for the Earned Income Credit.
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Free File
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The IRS website offers Free File for free federal income tax filing online. Like many tax preparation programs, Free File guides you through your income tax return by asking questions. Your answers to these questions populates your form, which means you do not have to fill it out by hand. The service checks for accuracy and does tax calculations for you. Gross incomes of $57,000 or higher are not eligible for Free File use, however, tax preparation software provides the same service at varying prices.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Eldery (TCE)
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation and assistance to people with incomes of less than $49,000. VITA centers are available in many towns at public libraries, schools, shopping malls and neighborhood centers. The IRS maintains a partial listing of VITA sites across the country for easy reference. VITA also offers free tax help to military families and free electronic filing. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) offers corresponding tax preparation help to low- and mid-income groups with a focus on helping people over the age of 60.
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