Free Tax Preparation Help

I don’t know anyone who looks forward to doing their taxes, but fortunately for us, there’s a small army of volunteers out there waiting to help us–and for free, no less.  So what excuse do we have to procrastinate?

Free tax preparation services are offered by various organizations, usually  targeting low-to-moderate income families and elderly taxpayers.  However, each organization has its own qualifications and ways of doing things, so be sure to check your prefered organization to see what they require.  It’s possible you might need to make an appointment or fill out a form ahead of time. Or they may have a list of what you need to bring with you.

Across the nation, both the IRS and AARP offer free tax preparation help.  For the nearest IRS location check this webpage, while AARP locations can be found here.

If you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you have even more options!  The United Way of the Bay Area sponsors a program called Earn It! Keep It! Save It! to help you with your tax preparation.  Earn It! Keep It! Save It! locations can be found here.  Another option is Tax Aid and their locations are listed here.

For those living in the East Bay, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) is acting as a host location for the IRS’s tax help program.  The main advantage here is CIL’s sensitivity to and advocacy for people with disabilities.  They are located at a fully-accessible transit hub at 3075 Adeline St., Suite 100, in Berkeley (above the Ashby BART station) and are happy to provide an ASL interpreter, assistive listening devices, printed matter in alternative format, or other reasonable accommodation.  For more information about dates and requirements or to request accommodations, call CIL at (510) 841-4776.

Good luck and many happy returns!  (I hear those groans.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.)