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  1. Taxes
  2. IRS

How to Get Free Tax Help From the IRS and Others

By:
Fernando García Delgado
 and
Brenden Rearick
12 min read
- Rangely García / Money
Rangely García / Money

With tax season underway and deadlines looming, many Americans are once again scrambling to file their tax returns. While filing taxes can be annoying, the IRS offers a variety of tools and programs to help taxpayers file their taxes accurately and on time.

This year, filers will have a lot more resources to utilize, as well. Additional IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and changes to existing programs will put taxpayers in touch with improved assistance programs and expanded free-filing services.

Read on to learn more about these programs and resources, which the IRS offers free of charge.

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How to get free tax help from the IRS

The IRS provides free tax help through various in-person and online initiatives to answer people's questions on topics like capital gains, tax brackets, tax credits and more. For example, qualified taxpayers can prepare and e-file their returns for free using the IRS Free File and Direct File programs, while the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs allow others to receive in-person assistance with tax return preparation, free of charge.

IRS Free File

The IRS Free File program is a collaboration between the agency and private tax preparation and filing software companies such as ezTaxReturn and FreeTaxUSA.

While these companies normally charge for the computer programs that allow you to file your taxes electronically, the IRS Free File program allows certain individuals to access these services for free. In 2024, the IRS vastly expanded eligibility requirements for its Free File program, allowing tons more taxpayers the opportunity to use it.

Taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (or AGIs) under $79,000 for 2023 can access free guided tax prep tools and be walked through filing taxes. Those with AGIs over $79,000 can access IRS Free File Fillable Forms and complete them independently free of charge, though this option requires a bit of tax knowledge.

Check out our guide on how to file taxes for free to read about alternatives to the Free File program.

Links and contact information:

IRS Direct File

This tax season, the IRS is testing a new Direct File service in a 12-state pilot program. Depending on where you live and how complex your tax return is, you may be able file your taxes directly through the IRS free of charge.

The program, available in both English and Spanish, will provide taxpayers with step-by-step guidance as they fill out their taxes directly through the IRS. Crucially, the program also offers ways to connect with IRS customer service representatives for "real-time online support," according to its website. These representatives can guide filers through basic tax law questions and provide technical support. They have the ability to connect taxpayers to other IRS help channels for additional assistance, too.

As part of the pilot, only those who live in the following states are eligible to use the Direct File service this year:

Additionally, only W-2 employees and those who receive Social Security or unemployment income will be able to use the service. For more, read Money's story about how to access the IRS Direct File test.

Links and contact information:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is one of the IRS’s two in-person, free basic tax return preparation programs. For the 2024 tax season, VITA is offering help to:

The VITA program is overseen by the IRS but is operated entirely by IRS-certified volunteers at physical locations throughout the country. VITA volunteers undergo training that meets or exceeds IRS requirements, which makes the program an excellent cost-free resource for many individuals.

Publication 3676-B for lists the services offered at VITA sites, which include assistance with state tax refunds, reporting unemployment benefits and gambling winnings. You can also access a checklist of required documents (government-issued ID, Social Security card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, etc.) that you must bring with you for your visit.

Links and contact information:

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)

The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is the second of the IRS’s two in-person, free basic tax return preparation programs. It tackles all of the tax questions and issues that VITA handles (including concerns about the child tax credit and earned income tax credit) but focuses on individuals age 60 and older.

The TCE program helps answer tax questions about topics such as pensions and other retirement-related issues like Social Security benefits in addition to offering tax return preparation assistance.

A majority of TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program, and they’re open from January to April.

Links and contact information:

Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC)

According to the Defense Department’s Office of Financial Readiness, “the Armed Forces Tax Council oversees the operation of VITA and military tax programs worldwide and acts as the main channel for IRS outreach to service members and their families.”

While military members can go to any VITA location accessible to civilians, the AFTC ensures that they also have access to VITA program services in many U.S. military installations around the world.

Military members can find a VITA location using the VITA site locator tool or by visiting Military OneSource.

Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)

The ITA is a tool that can answer several tax code questions specific to your individual circumstances. The way it accomplishes this is by giving you a long list of topics which you can then provide specific answers for and narrow down an answer.

The list is divided into categories to make it easier to find a relevant topic. The categories include:

Where's My Refund?

The Where's My Refund? tool allows you to check on the status of your tax refund. By providing the IRS with basic information such as your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status and the exact amount of your refund, the agency can give you an update on your refund’s current status.

The tool can be accessed both through irs.gov and the IRS2GO mobile app. Expect to wait a minimum of 24 hours after you file your tax return online or four weeks after sending it through the mail to see any updates.

If there’s a delay in processing your return, you should only contact the IRS if the Where's My Refund? tool tells you to — or if it’s been 21 days since e-filing your tax return. The agency will contact you via mail if it needs more information.

This year, Where's My Refund? has unveiled new and more detailed status messages, which will help give taxpayers a more up-to-date view of where their money is in the refund process. With it, the IRS hopes fewer taxpayers will need to call helplines for those updates, hopefully clearing up help resources for others.

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IRS2Go app

The IRS offers a mobile app that allows you to track your refund status, make payments and more.

The IRS2Go app can also help you find free online tax prep assistance. If you prefer receiving help in person, you can use the app to find a VITA or TCE site near you. IRS2Go is available in English and Spanish. The app is available for Android and iOS.

IRS.gov

Like many other government agencies, the IRS has its own website where you can find information on a wide range of tax topics and initiatives. For example, determine whether you qualify for the child tax credit by using the child tax credit update portal. If you're an electric vehicle owner, you can similarly check the website to see if your vehicle qualifies for the EV tax credit under the clean vehicle tax credits section.

You can also read about the earned income tax credit, or EITC, which helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. The website offers a brief questionnaire you can fill out to determine your eligibility.

Besides the educational resources mentioned here, you can also use the IRS site to file your federal taxes or make corrections to any tax forms you may have already submitted. Many of the programs and assistance options (ITA, Where’s My Refund?, etc.) described in previous sections can also be found throughout the website.

IRS telephone assistance

The IRS provides different phone numbers that you can call for assistance on a variety of tax-related topics. You can speak with a live representative 24/7, order tax forms for the current and prior tax years, or listen to over 100 pre-recorded messages.

Here are a handful of IRS phone numbers for various needs:

If you've used these IRS phone numbers for help in prior years and were aggravated by wait times, know that things are different now. Through its recent increase in funding, the IRS was able to cut wait times in 2023 down to four minutes from 27 minutes in 2022. This year, it expects similarly quick times for callers.

Additionally, the agency has extended hours during the workweek and implemented Saturday hours at almost 250 of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers. You can find your local center here and schedule an appointment by calling 844-545-5640.

If you're problem is less with filing your taxes and more with paying on them, you have options, too. Check out our guide on the best tax relief companies to find professionals who can help you negotiate tax debt payment options with the IRS.

More from Money:

Don't Wait 'Til April: Knock Out These 5 Tax Tasks Now

Tax Changes 2024: What's New for Filing Taxes With the IRS This Year?

Here Are the Federal Income Tax Brackets for This Year

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