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Tax Preparation: You Can Find Information

Tax season is here! There are some services for tax preparation that you may find helpful right here in Chautauqua County. People have until Tuesday, April 17 to file their 2017 returns and pay any taxes due. The IRS has many publications available to assist tax payers. You can find them at WWW.IRS.gov. The website has the following guidance and information on choices in getting your taxes completed.

¯ E-file — Taxpayers can use commercial tax software to prepare and file their tax returns. The software uses a question and answer format that makes doing taxes easier. After the taxpayer responds to the questions, the software selects the appropriate tax forms and does the calculations automatically. Once complete, the software securely transmits the return to the IRS.

¯ Free File — Seventy percent of taxpayers have an adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less and are therefore eligible to file using free, brand-name software. Taxpayers can find the right software for them at IRS.gov.

¯ Paper Forms — Free File Fillable Forms have no age, income or residency restrictions for taxpayers who are comfortable completing a paper return. Taxpayers who mail a paper Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, should know that it can take six to eight weeks for the IRS to process their return. (IRS, 2018).

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program or VITA is a program that works to help income-eligible people file their federal and New York State Tax returns and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. IRS-certified volunteers provide free, basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to eligible taxpayers who generally earn $54,000 or less. You are encouraged to call 211 or 1-888-696-9211 to schedule an appointment for a VITA appointment, if you meet these income guidelines. An IRS certified volunteer can assist you in preparing your taxes and there is no cost for this service to you. You can also like them on Facebook at United Way of Chautauqua County as well as access the website at uwayscc.org/ search/node/VITA.

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