Filing taxes is something that every person in the country has to do unless they have a super low income. The vast majority of people will have to file a tax return each year, and it is something that many people don’t want to do on their own. Lots of people prefer to have someone else prepare their taxes to file, but they may not have the extra money to pay for it. The good news is that there are some options when it comes to obtaining free tax preparation for seniors.
First, it is a good idea to know if you need to file a tax return at all. Whether or not you need to file a tax return depends on how much you earn throughout the year. If you don’t meet the income threshold to file, then you will not have to do any tax preparation. If you do meet the income level that requires you to file, then you will have to file a tax return, whether you do it yourself or have someone prepare it for you.
Seniors who are under the age of 65 will have to file a tax return if they made at least $14,600 during the year. Seniors who are age 65 and older will have to file a tax return if their earnings were at least $16,550. Most seniors live on a fixed income, so it is important to look at what was earned in order to see if they need to file that year. If their income fluctuates each year, they may need to file some years, but not every year.
Places to Find Free Tax Preparation for Seniors
Check out the places below to find free tax preparation for seniors. Once you locate a place that will provide you with the free service, be sure to have all of your tax forms and legal identification with you. They may need other documents as well, such as if you have records from earning dividends on investments.
Internal Revenue Service – The federal government that collects and maintains the country’s tax records has options for those who need to file their taxes each year. They provide an online route to file taxes, and they try to keep it simple. Those who have a low income will be able to complete the forms online and not pay a fee. They provide a free filing route online for those who have a low income and meet the requirements. You can get more information about this option online to see if you qualify and will be able to file the online form yourself. You could also have someone do it online for you, such as a family member. To get more information, click here.
H & R Block – This is one of the largest tax preparation firms in the country. They offer a free tax preparation service for those who meet the requirements, which is to have a lower income. They will prepare the taxes and file them for free for those who qualify. They are a firm that has been around for a long time, and they have offices around the country, making it convenient and highly accessible for most people. Some of their locations are found inside Walmart stores, so you can do your shopping and get the taxes done in one trip. To get more information and see if you qualify, click here.
Senior Centers – Check with your local senior centers to see if they know of local free tax preparation services for seniors. They typically maintain referral information for things like this, so there is a good chance they will be able to provide you with a referral source. The senior centers are found all around the country, but some of them may be called aging centers or something similar.
Local Library – Many local libraries offer free tax preparation for seniors each year when it gets close to tax day, which is always in April. Check with your local library system to see if one or more of the branch locations will be offering free tax preparation for seniors. This is a common practice in many library systems around the country.
United Way – This organization provides free tax preparation and referrals for seniors. Contact the branch that is near you to see if they are providing the service in your area. If they are not offering it in your area, they may be able to refer you to a place or program that is offering it. They are the organization that runs the free 211 referral program, which provides people with information regarding local programs that can help them with what they need. To get more information, click here.
AARP – This organization is for seniors around the country. They provide a range of free services and referrals to programs that seniors may need. Contact AARP to see if they can provide information about a free tax preparation service in your area. To get more information, click here.
Colleges – The colleges in your area are preparing the next group of accountants, who will in turn provide tax preparation services. Contact the accounting department within the college to see if they offer any type of program that provides free tax preparation for seniors. They may have student who volunteer their time to do the taxes just to get the experience.
Churches – There are churches around the country, and they can be great places to contact for referrals and help. Contact the churches in your area to see if they have anyone in their congregation who offers free tax preparation services for seniors in the area who need assistance. They may have a volunteer from their church who will provide the service to those in need, or they may be able to provide you with a referral to another program that can be of assistance. You do not have to be a member of the church in order to contact them for assistance.