The IRS sponsors volunteer tax help programs and offers help to taxpayers in many of its IRS offices and other community locations. VITA is aimed at those for whom paid tax help may be out of reach, those who are non-English speaking, persons with disabilities, those with a low income, the elderly, and other individuals with special needs. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program , TCE, provides free tax help and IRS tax return preparation to people age 60 and above, particularly those who are confined to their residences or retirement communities. It's administered by the IRS in cooperation with non-profit groups. The IRS trained volunteers provide free tax help and basic IRS tax return preparation to senior citizens.
Volunteers travel to taxpayers' homes if they are unable to come to a local TCE site.
The two above IRS tax help programs helped 3.5 million taxpayers in the 1996 fiscal year. Getting through can be difficult during the peak tax season, the 1 months leading up to the April 15th IRS tax deadline. The best times to call are early in the morning and later in the week. Also, in certain areas, the IRS has local offices you may visit to receive tax help. The Community Outreach Tax Education Program offers free tax seminars to groups of people sharing common tax interests.