Free Tax Return Preparation - 2012

In the 2009 and 2010 tax seasons, Disability Rights Florida piloted a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax initiative using our Tallahassee office as a mobile tax site. We targeted outreach to persons with disabilities in the Big Bend area of Florida. In the 2011 tax season, we expanded on the initiative to increase awareness of the existence of free tax preparation and increase awareness of the:

• Earned Income Credit
• Child Tax Credit

Disability Rights Florida is proud to partner with the REAL ECONOMIC IMPACT TOUR, the United Way of Big Bend BEST Project, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Florida Division of Blind Services (DBS), North Florida Area Agency on Aging and the Internal Revenue Service/Stakeholder Partnership, Education and Communication (SPEC) on the Leon County Florida Disability Tax Initiative.

• Living and working with Disabilities Tax Credits and Benefits - IRS Publication 3966 (Rev 10-2008)
• Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities - IRS Publication 907

Free Tax Preparation
Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service
More Tax Credits
Other Resources
IRS Alternative Media Center

Free Tax Preparation

Get free tax filing help through the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Both programs can provide fast electronic tax filing. Community volunteers receive IRS-approved training to assist individuals with tax returns. Some VITA sites can help you open a bank account if you don’t have one.

Disability Rights Florida, “FREE TAX SITE” prepares basic federal income tax returns free of charge for individuals of low to moderate income. We are an authorized IRS e-file provider.

Federal tax return preparation
IRS e-file (electronic filing) for federal tax returns
Refund splitting (allows you to save part of your refund in a second account)

WHEN:

February 22, 2012 from 2:00pm-5:00pm
March 28, 2012 from 9:00am-12:00pm
April 11, 2012 from 2:00pm-5:00pm

All dates are by appointment only. Please call for available appointment times.

WHERE: Disability Rights Florida, 2728 Centerview Drive, Suite 102, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or directions, call 850-488-9071 ext 6000.

View the Flyer

More Information

United Way of Big Bend BEST Project offers free tax preparation at sites throughout the Big Bend Area.
VITA site locations and times in the Big Bend area
Florida Free Tax Sites - 2011 Tax Season
- Excel file
- PDF file
- All sites can now be located at the IRS website -- access all the states in the U.S and then go down by county
MyFreeTaxes.com - Prepare your taxes for free with IRS-credited tax professionals. Free for everyone who earns less than $58,000 per year.
DeafTax.com - VITA Pilot is a nationwide initiative that provides no-cost volunteer income tax preparation assistance only to low income, deaf and hard of hearing taxpayers. DeafTax.com provides high quality tax preparation and planning services.

Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.

To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to have a filing requirement.

The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.

Resources

Child Tax Credit

Do you have a Child or Children?

You may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit.

The Child Tax Credit is a nonrefundable credit and may be as much as $1,000 per qualifying child, depending upon your income.

The credit will be reduced if your adjusted gross income is over:

$110,000* and your filing status is married filing jointly
$75,000* and your filing status is single, head of household, or qualifying widow
$55,000* and your filing status is married filing separately

* Special rules may apply if you have income from outside the U.S.

If you qualify for the Child Tax Credit, you may qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit. The Additional Child Tax Credit is a refundable credit and may give you a refund even if you do not owe any tax. This credit is for certain individuals who receive less than the full amount of the Child Tax Credit. File Form 8812 to claim the Additional Child Tax Credit.

Resources

IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service

There may be times when you receive a letter from the IRS about your tax return or you identify a problem that requires IRS assistance. Most issues can be handled easily with a simple phone call to 1-800-829-1040. If you receive a letter or notice from the IRS you will generally receive instructions for responding.

Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC)
If you find you need to speak with someone face to face, the IRS has Taxpayer Assistance Centers located throughout the country. Be prepared to show identification when visiting an IRS office. See Tax Topic Visiting an IRS office for identification requirements.
Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)
If you are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, you may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TTD 1-800-829-4059.
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC)
You may also qualify for assistance through a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. LITCs are independent organizations that provide low income taxpayers with representation in federal tax controversies with the IRS for free or for a nominal charge. The clinics also provide tax education and outreach for taxpayers with limited English proficiency or who speak English as a second language. Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Taxpayer Advocate Service
What if I need legal representation to help with my tax problem but can’t afford it?

More Tax Credits

American Opportunity Credit

Replaces the Hope Credit for post-secondary education expenses (also called Expanded Hope Credit)
Maximum credit is $2500 compared to $1800 for the Hope Credit
The credit is partially refundable, making it available to lower income families who have no income tax liability and who were not eligible for the Hope Credit.
The credit can be used for up to four years of post-secondary education and can be used to cover expenses for books and materials in addition to tuition

Video Recovery: Education Tax Credit – Claim It (Parents) – January 2010 (ASL, Captions & Voice-over)

New Car Sales Tax Deduction

You can deduct the sales tax paid on the purchase of a new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle. The vehicle must be purchased between February 17 and December 31, 2009.