With tax season in full swing and many are wondering, “Where are all of the affordable tax services in my neighborhood?”
Yes, there’s always the option of big tax companies such as Jackson-Hewitt or H&R Block, but what’s one to do when they can’t afford to file their taxes when a large price is attached to them?
According to a survey conducted by the National Society of Accountants, the average cost of professional tax preparation is $261 to prepare a 1040 tax form with itemized deductions. Without these deductions, the average customer is charged $152.
With the IRS tax filing deadline looming on April 15, here’s a variety of free tax preparation services for you to consider.
Following are five options for taxpayers:
United Way of Central Indiana
United Way supports the citywide program called Indy Free Tax Prep. The program provides provide free tax filing assistance and referrals to financial education programs to over 6,000 low to moderate income families, disabled individuals, elderly and individuals with limited English proficiency. On March 15 and April 11, customers will be assisted in completing and filing their tax forms at Plainfield Middle School, 709 Stafford Road.
For more information, visit Uwci.org/programs/tax-preparation.
Shepherd Community Center
Save-Earn-Learn: Indy’s Campaign for Financial Fitness is Shepherd Community Center’s free tax preparation program which helps low-income individuals an opportunity to complete the process without turning to payday-loan businesses. “The statistics are one way to measure the success of the program (hundreds of lower-income taxpayers receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax refunds without having to pay preparation or filing fees), but the relationships are the reason that the volunteers (and the taxpayers) keep returning year after year,” said Mary Jo Hein, Shepherd board member.
For more information, visit Shepherdcommunity.org/become-informed.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The Greater Indianapolis Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) is participating in the annual IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, which offers free tax assistance to taxpayers who cannot afford professional assistance. The program is for those that generate less than $51,000 a year, including those with disabilities and senior citizens. The organization is also looking to fill a variety of volunteer positions.
For more information, visit Indynaba.org.
John H. Boner Community Center
Located at 2236 E. 10 Street, the John H. Boner Community Center hosts a free tax preparation program for those that made less than $58,000 in 2014. The program is in service Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturdays 9 a.m.-2p.m. until April 15. Not appointment is needed, however customers should note the service is not available if, one has owned or sold rental property, sold a business, had more than $10,000 in business expenses, or had business losses, bought/sold stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
For more information, visit Jhbcc.org/programs.
Online programs
Taxpayers may also use free online services provided by the IRS and companies such as TurboTax and H&R Block. TurboTax offers a variety of ways to file taxes depending upon price and services offered. They offer one online program for free and two other services priced at $19.99 and $129.99. H&R Block offers customers to file their federal taxes online for free and their state taxes for $9.99.
For more information on these programs, visit Hrblock.com or Turbotax.intuit.com.
