Report by Paula Antolini
January 11, 2017 1:04PM EDT
Senator Boucher Says Free Tax Preparation Help Available, Including for Elderly and Low-Income Individuals
As people prepare their paperwork for the coming tax season, State Senator Toni Boucher said some residents may qualify for free tax preparation help.
“Income tax filing can be a confusing and stressful process for a lot of people. Thankfully, the AARP Foundation and IRS have a long-running program that offers free tax preparation services for elderly and low-income individuals,” Sen. Boucher said. “The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program use trained, IRS-certified volunteers whose mission is to help their neighbors correctly file their state and federal returns.”
It is not just people who may get confused and stressed during the tax season, but the same could also apply to businesses too. Start-up businesses, in particular, will find it challenging as filing taxes for a business might be different from what they’re used too. As elderly and low-income individuals will have access to free tax preparation, businesses also have the option to seek help if they need it. Outsourced accounting firms similar to Kruze Consulting will be able to guide you through your tax preparation in order for your payments to be filed with the Government on time. This is a process that needs to be completed, individually or as a business and so having access to help can make the situation easier.
Most VITA-TCE preparation services start on January 30 and are generally located in area senior centers, town halls, and social service agencies.
“The United Way of Connecticut also helps with this effort. Interested residents can call Infoline211 to find a preparation location in their community and schedule appointments,” Sen. Boucher said. “AARP and the IRS also can help residents find a location and will explain what documents are needed to prepare the returns.”
For more information, visit the AARP website or the IRS website.
Sen. Boucher represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton.