Elisabeth Buchwald|USA TODAY
You can't (legally) avoid paying taxes you owe, but you can avoid paying hefty fees to tax professionals and software companies to help complete your tax return.
That's because there's a plethora of free resources available, especially forlow and moderate-income taxpayers as well as taxpayers 60 and older, to help you file your taxesfree.
For instance, anyone who lives or works in New York City whose family income was under $80,000 last year or under $56,000 for individual filers qualifies for a wide range of free tax preparation services regardless of their immigration status.
Thatincludes in-person and virtualappointments with Internal Revenue Service-certified volunteer preparers. And for the first time, some tax prep centers across the city are providing free tax assistance for self-employed people.The city'sDepartment of Consumer and Worker Protection commissioner, Vilda Vera Mayuga, who is overseeing the initiative, said it is the first free tax prep program for self-employed people in the country.
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"The amount of money people can save from not using paid preparers is huge," Mayuga told USA TODAY. "We really want everybody to have every single cent they are entitled to and not give it to anyone else."
But the closer April 18 gets, the less likely you are to get an appointment for free tax prep services like the ones offered in New York City.
Here's what else you need to know about free tax prep services:
VITA and TCE
Two of the IRS' biggest free tax prep programs are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is geared toward people who make less than $60,000 a year, have a disability, or have limited English proficiency. Tax Counseling for the Elderly is for people 60 and older who often need assistance with retirement and pension-related questions.
The IRS oversees both programs, which are operated by partners across the country, such asNew York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and staffed by IRS-certified volunteers.
"All VITA/TCE volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards," the IRS said in an online post."This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information."
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"You don't get worse quality or fewer services just because this happens to be free,"Mayuga said referring to New York City's free tax preparation services.
You can find your nearest VITA or TCE center by entering your ZIP code here.
The IRS recommends bringing your Social Security card, photo ID, and wage and earning statements (namely any W-2s or 1099 forms you received from your employer or employers), among other items.
To learn more about the services these centers provide (and don't provide) be sure to check out this IRS flyer.
IRS Free File
Prefer to work on your taxes from the comfort of your own home? In that case, IRS Free File is the service you'll want to use this tax season.
IRS Free File has a higher income cap, $73,000,than Volunteer Income Tax Assistancebut provides less one-on-one attention. IRS Free File grants you access to online guided tax prep software to complete your federal income tax return and in some cases your state income tax return as well.
There are seven tax software companies, including TaxACT and TaxSlayer,that are part of the Free File Alliance that offer these services. According to the Alliance's site, more than 68 million returns have been filed this way since 2003.
Click this link to learn more about the program and how to start using it.
Free file fillable forms
If you earned more than $73,000 last year, you can't take advantage of the free IRS services but the agency has a consolation prizeof sorts: free online fillable tax forms.
TurboTax Free Edition
TurboTax offers a limited amount of free tax preparation servicesgeared toward "taxpayers with simple returns only," said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a certified public accountant at TurboTax. A simple tax return is one that can be filed using a 1040 income form"without having to attach any forms or schedules," she said.
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With the free edition, you canclaim the Child Tax Credit as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit and deduct student loan interest but you won't be to claim more complex credits and deductions that require you to complete additional forms.Additionally, you can't use the free edition if you're submitting an itemized return.
H&R Block Free Edition
H&R Block offers a free online DIY tax filing service. Like TurboTax, there are no income requirements to use its service. But there are limitations on what information you can input into the free version of the software. For instance, it won't accept forms used to report your investing income or crypto currency sales.
But unlike TurboTax, H&R Bloc free version will allow you to report unemployment income using form 1099-G.
More of your 2022 tax season questions answered
- 2023 tax season guide for new parents: What to know about the Child Tax Credit, EITC and more
- IRS may owe you from 2020 taxes. Here's why and what you need to do to find out if you're owed
- What is OASDI tax on my paycheck? Here's why you and your employer pay this federal tax
- Do you have to report crypto on taxes? Yes. Here's what you should know about form 8949
- What is a 1098-E form? What you need to know about the student loan interest statement
- Tax season 2023: What exactly is the mileage rate? There's more than one.
- Is it better to pay someone to do your taxes or do them yourself? We'll help you decide.
- Companies can deduct full cost of business meals on 2022 tax returns
- Who has to file a tax return: It's not necessary for everyone. Here are the rules.
- What is capital gains tax in simple terms? A guide to 2023 rates, long-term vs. short-term
Elisabeth Buchwald is apersonal finance and markets correspondentfor USA TODAY.You canfollow her on Twitter @BuchElisabeth and sign up for ourDaily Money newsletterhere
