Tax Information and Assistance

Below you will find a list of resources for free tax assistance. To assist you further during the tax season our library offers free paper copies of the form 1040, 1040-SR and instruction booklets (in English and Spanish). We also offer a selection of books at the library related to taxation rules. In addition, if you know the exact name or the number of the tax form you need, it can be printed at the Information Desk at your request for ¢10/page.

Click here for a printable list of local tax assistance resources.

Federal Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers Offered by the IRS
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites offer free basic tax return preparation help to
people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

• People who generally make $67,000 or less
• Persons with disabilities
• Limited English-speaking taxpayers

The TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) program offers free tax help, particularly for those who
are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related
issues.

VITA and TCE English speaking volunteers will be available by appointment at the Library of the
Chathams from February 5 to April 9, 2025. Please call in advance at 973-635-0603.

For people comfortable using the internet and who do not need a person to help them,
IRS provides two ways to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free:

• Guided Tax Software provides free online tax preparation and filing at an IRS partner
  site. This service is provided at no cost to qualifying taxpayers whose AGI is $84,000 or
  less. This service is available in English and Spanish.
• Free File Fillable Forms are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040
  form. You should know how to prepare your own tax return using form instructions and
  IRS publications if needed. It provides a free option for any income taxpayers.

For more information (in multiple languages) please visit the IRS site at
https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free

TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and virtual tax assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. There is no AARP membership requirement. AARP also offers free self-preparation help. To prepare your own taxes online, you can request help from a volunteer counselor to coach you through the process using  your own computer while screen-sharing.

To locate a site near you, visit https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations/
The AARP Tax help service is available from early February to April 15, 2024 (dates vary according to location).

LOCAL SITES
IN-PERSON, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY