Just because you didn’t make a ton of money last year doesn’t mean you don’t have to file taxes by April 17th.
Of course, if you only garnered a few hundreds dollars, then you might be able to skip filing with Uncle Sam, but the majority of Americans, even the ones considered “low-income,” earned enough money to warrant submitting some type of tax form.
The bright side to that not-so great news is that the Internal Revenue System offers free help to low income wage earners who need assistance with their taxes. One of the mot popular is the IRS Free File. The computer system allows taxpayers who earned less than $58,000 in 2011 to file their taxes online for free. What’s more, the electronic option also provides help in the way of free guides to help individuals ensure that they’ve completed the proper forms and that they filled out said forms correctly.
The IRS also has another program specifically designed to help low income individuals complete the right tax forms. The VITA Program is available to people who earned less than $49,000 in 2011. It is run by a staff of IRS-trained and approved volunteers who review taxpayers’ financial and personal information and determine the best form to complete. Staff members also discuss available deductions or credits that could increase a tax rebate. The service is free.
Finally, there is the IRS sponsored TCE program. It is designed to help taxpayers over the age of 60 who don’t earn a lot of money and need help identifying current deductions or credits available to them. The workers at the TCE program also help elderly individuals complete and file their tax forms. This program is run in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and is available at various sites across the country.