It is a given fact that the majority of us have to file tax returns each year. Unfortunately a large number of people who have to file a tax return can’t afford to have it done professionally and try to do it themselves. This leaves them at risk of their return being filled out or filed incorrectly. However, there are a growing number of professional tax return preparers in Atlanta, who as volunteers offer assistance to those who qualify for a free tax return preparation.
The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, otherwise known as VITA, is just one of the many programs that offer free tax help to those who have an annual income of $50,000 or less and need assistance preparing their returns. These volunteers are certified by the IRS and are able to provide free basic tax return preparation to residents of their local communities. Often these volunteers are retired certified accountants or others with similar qualifications. They are able to help those in need learn about the tax credits for which they may qualify on their returns and are also up to date on all the latest tax laws and regulations. The VITA volunteer sites are usually located at neighborhood and community centers such as shopping malls, public or school libraries and other places that are centrally located for easy access. Most of the time the VITA centers are also able to offer free electronic filing. For tax payers age 60 and older the IRS sponsors another certified program called Tax Counseling for the Elderly, also known as TCE. This program offers free tax assistance that specializes in issues pertaining to retirement and pension funds. The IRS- certified volunteers in this group are generally retirees who are associated with non-profit organizations and the service is funded by grants from the IRS>
Every year from the first of February until April 15th, the American Association of Retired People, the AARP, offers programs that assists lower and middle income taxpayers in preparing and filing their tax returns free of chard. These trained IRS certified volunteers have all the latest tax law and tax credit information readily available and also offer electronic filing for those who wish to get their refund more quickly than traditional paper filing. While these three volunteer tax return preparers in the Atlanta area are the most well-known, there are dozens of churches and other community groups that offer assistance to those in need of it for preparing and filing their annual state and federal tax returns. With the often complex and confusing tax regulations that change almost every year, it is better to have assistance filling out and filing your return rather than trying to do it by yourself and running the risk of it not being correct.
