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FREE
INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE
The following is summarized
from the websites of the American Association
of Retired Persons: www.aarp.org/
, the Connecticut Department of Revenue
Services (DRS): www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1462&q=289046
and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc101.html
People needing free help to
complete their federal tax forms have a number
of options available to them. They can seek
assistance at an IRS office, call IRS toll free
numbers for forms or questions, or bring forms
to a volunteer at a site offering AARP Tax-Aide
program or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) services. All options are free to the
taxpayer.
TAX ASSISTANCE BY
TELEPHONE
- Anyone can call the IRS toll
free phone line: (800-TAX-1040). The phone is
answered by tax specialists and is open 24
hours, 7 days per week during the tax season.
There is touch tone phone access for recorded
tax information on over 100 topics.
- Refund status information can
be obtained three weeks after a claim has been
filed. The following information must be given
to obtain refund status: filing status (joint,
single), social security number and amount of
refund in whole dollars.
- Tax assistance for people with
hearing impairments and TTY equipment can be
obtained by calling: 1-800-829-4059, 24 hours,
7 days per week. People without TTY equipment
may be able to obtain access through federal
or state relay services.
TAX ASSISTANCE AT IRS
OFFICES
- The IRS offers in-person income
tax filing assistance all year round at local
field offices throughout Connecticut. The
field offices are located in Bridgeport,
Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, New London,
Norwalk and Waterbury. IRS staff help
taxpayers prepare basic federal tax
return forms. Taxpayers must go to the office
and wait for their turn. There are no phone
calls and no appointments taken for tax
assistance at IRS offices.
TAX ASSISTANCE AT DRS
OFFICES
- The DRS offers in-person income tax filing
assistance at the Hartford office until April
15. DRS staff help taxpayers prepare Connecticut
tax return forms only. Taxpayers must go to the
office by 4:00pm and bring their completed
federal tax return. No appointments are taken
for tax assistance at the DRS office. Taxpayers
can call (860) 297-5962 or 1-800-382-9463,
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4pm for assistance over
the phone.
AARP TAX-AIDE PROGRAM
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX
ASSISTANCE (VITA)
- Trained volunteers at Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites offer free
tax filing assistance from January 14-April
15. (Dates and times vary by site) Anyone,
regardless of age, can use a VITA site for
assistance. VITA volunteers help taxpayers
prepare basic tax return forms. The
general guideline is a limit of $49,000 a year
for household income. VITA sites are held at
libraries, churches, senior centers and other
community meeting places. For a list of VITA
sites, contact the IRS or go to the 2-1-1
database:http://www.211ct.org/referweb/MatchList.aspx?n;;0;;N;0;1648392;vita%20(volunteer%20income%20tax%20assistance);ExactPhrase
Note: Some sites are by appointment only; some
are walk in only.
FOR A LIST OF ALL FREE TAX ASSISTANCE
SITES:
Search by service name: Tax
Preparation Assistance
FORMS TO BRING TO A TAX
ASSISTANCE SITE
When visiting an IRS, DRS,
Tax-Aide or VITA site, bring the following:
- Photo ID for Caller (and/or spouse, if filing
jointly)
- If married filing jointly, both spouses must
attend appointment.
- Social security cards for every member of the
family (if a card is lost, the taxpayer must
contact the social security administration to
replace card prior to having taxes prepared)
- W-2s and/or 1099’s from ALL jobs worked in 2012
- A check from the taxpayer's checking account or
a savings account number for direct deposit (NOTE:
The taxpayer can open a bank account or cash card
at the tax site for direct deposit if they do not
have an existing account.)
- Interest statements from financial institutions
(if applicable)
- Tuition and student loan information (if
applicable)
- Documentation from daycare provider, if taxpayer
paid for child care in 2012
- Any other income information or IRS notices
received
- Copy of last years tax return
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SOURCES: 2-1-1 database;
AARP website; Connecticut
Department. of Revenue Services website;
Internal Revenue Service website
INTERNET PAGE PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: January2013
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