Tax Tip 2012-38, February 27, 2012 The IRS offers free assistance by computer, telephone and in person. The easiest and fastest way to get free tax help is through the IRS website – www.irs.gov. The IRS can also help find free tax preparation sites for those who qualify. Here are four easy ways to get the help you need to file your tax return. IRS website. The IRS website at www.irs.gov is a one-stop shop for a wide array of tax information. You can even prepare and file your federal tax return – for free – through Free File, a service offered by IRS and its partners who offer free tax preparation software and free electronic filing. But you must go through www.irs.gov to use Free File. Have some tax questions? Check out 1040 Central on the Individuals page for the latest news. You can even check the status of your refund with Where’s My Refund? Community resources. Free tax preparation is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs in many communities. Volunteer return preparation programs are provided through partnerships between the IRS and community based organizations. They offer free help in preparing simple tax returns for low-to-moderate-income taxpayers. To find a site near you, visit www.irs.gov, or call 800-906-9887. Qualified taxpayers (age 60 or older) can also find help at a local TCE site by visiting www.aarp.org or calling 888-227-7669. Telephone. Call the IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals, 800-829-1040, to get answers to your federal tax questions, To hear pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics or to check the status of your refund, call 800-829-4477. To order free forms, instructions and publications, call 800-829-3676. TTY/TDD users may call 800-829-4059 to ask tax questins or to order forms and publications. Taxpayer Assistance Centers. When you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or by phone and you want face-to-face assistance, you can find help at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. Locations, business hours and an overview of services are available at www.irs.gov. Just go to the Individuals tab and click on the Contact My Local Office link on the left under IRS Resources. Even though the IRS offers many options for assistance, remember the easiest and fastest way to get help is through the IRS website – www.irs.gov. For more information about free services provided by the IRS, review Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services available at www.irs.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Links: Free File AARP Tax-Aide Forms and Publications Frequently Asked Questions Small Business/Self-Employed Contact My Local Office Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services (21,524K) PDF Subscribe to Tax Tips
