A Guide To Finding Low Cost Tax Help
If you're like the vast majority of Americans, you're not comfortable doing your taxes on your own. Tax and you just don't get along: you have trouble figuring out even the most basic elements of your return. Don't worry, you're not alone. There are many opportunities to find low cost tax help from national companies, local experts, and in some cases free or pro-bono services.
Start With National Companies
Liberty Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt, and H&R Block are all recognizable for their presence across the country. They emphasize providing good service but without charging more than is necessary. At all of them, the charge depends on the complexity of your filing. The more difficult it is, the more time will be necessary in order to make it appropriately complete, and thus the more that will need to be charged.
Consider Online Programs
Most of the major companies offer online components. In addition, companies like TurboTax offer specific programs designed to assist with prep work. In some cases these may be less expensive than sitting down with a prep worker and completing your return, but they have a distinct disadvantage: they're much more likely to incite errors and other problems. A human is able to use their expertise to monitor and manage everything, whereas a computer can only compare your responses against what it is programmed to analyze.
Look At No-Cost Programs
If you are low-income or are elderly or military, you may be able to find free assistance. The first thing to check should be whether there are any programs available through your local offices. For example, it is common to see Liberty Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt, and H&R Block offering steep discounts or free preparation for firefighters, policemen, teachers, and other public service professionals. Liberty does this the most frequently, but there's a chance that all of them will. Unfortunately, the timing can be difficult to predict. It might be worth stopping in and asking, and definitely keep an eye on social media and other channels that might be used to alert people to it.
In addition, there are some government programs designed to present advice to those who need it most. If you are substantially low income or elderly and would like assistance, contact your local community center. There are several services which connect you with not-for-profit prep workers, who can complete your entire return at no charge. Just keep in mind that there are substantial restrictions that will keep many people from qualifying for this free service. In addition, the quality of the work you will get can vary dramatically. For example, you might not be able to have more complex forms completed by the volunteers.
Start With National Companies
Liberty Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt, and H&R Block are all recognizable for their presence across the country. They emphasize providing good service but without charging more than is necessary. At all of them, the charge depends on the complexity of your filing. The more difficult it is, the more time will be necessary in order to make it appropriately complete, and thus the more that will need to be charged.
Consider Online Programs
Most of the major companies offer online components. In addition, companies like TurboTax offer specific programs designed to assist with prep work. In some cases these may be less expensive than sitting down with a prep worker and completing your return, but they have a distinct disadvantage: they're much more likely to incite errors and other problems. A human is able to use their expertise to monitor and manage everything, whereas a computer can only compare your responses against what it is programmed to analyze.
Look At No-Cost Programs
If you are low-income or are elderly or military, you may be able to find free assistance. The first thing to check should be whether there are any programs available through your local offices. For example, it is common to see Liberty Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt, and H&R Block offering steep discounts or free preparation for firefighters, policemen, teachers, and other public service professionals. Liberty does this the most frequently, but there's a chance that all of them will. Unfortunately, the timing can be difficult to predict. It might be worth stopping in and asking, and definitely keep an eye on social media and other channels that might be used to alert people to it.
In addition, there are some government programs designed to present advice to those who need it most. If you are substantially low income or elderly and would like assistance, contact your local community center. There are several services which connect you with not-for-profit prep workers, who can complete your entire return at no charge. Just keep in mind that there are substantial restrictions that will keep many people from qualifying for this free service. In addition, the quality of the work you will get can vary dramatically. For example, you might not be able to have more complex forms completed by the volunteers.
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