Irs Publication 524 - Credit For The Elderly Or The Disabled

Free tax services. To find out what services are avail-

How To Get Tax Help

able, get Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services.

It contains lists of free tax information sources, including

publications, services, and free tax education and assis-

You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free

tance programs. It also has an index of over 100 TeleTax

publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get informa-

topics (recorded tax information) you can listen to on your

tion from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the method

telephone.

that is best for you, you will have quick and easy access to

Accessible versions of IRS published products are

tax help.

available on request in a variety of alternative formats for

people with disabilities.

Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate. The Taxpayer

Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization

Free help with your return. Free help in preparing your

within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are

return is available nationwide from IRS-trained volunteers.

experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is

resolving tax problems that have not been resolved

designed to help low-income taxpayers and the Tax Coun-

through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS

seling for the Elderly (TCE) program is designed to assist

system or procedure is not working as it should. Here are

taxpayers age 60 and older with their tax returns. Many

seven things every taxpayer should know about TAS:

VITA sites offer free electronic filing and all volunteers will

•

TAS is your voice at the IRS.

let you know about credits and deductions you may be

entitled to claim. To find the nearest VITA or TCE site, call

•

Our service is free, confidential, and tailored to meet

1-800-829-1040.

your needs.

As part of the TCE program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide

•

You may be eligible for TAS help if you have tried to

counseling program. To find the nearest AARP Tax-Aide

resolve your tax problem through normal IRS chan-

site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP’s website at

nels and have gotten nowhere, or you believe an

IRS procedure just isn’t working as it should.

For more information on these programs, go to

and enter keyword “VITA” in the upper

•

TAS helps taxpayers whose problems are causing

right-hand corner.

financial difficulty or significant cost, including the

cost of professional representation. This includes

Internet. You can access the IRS website at

businesses as well as individuals.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week to:

•

TAS employees know the IRS and how to navigate

it. We will listen to your problem, help you under-

•

E-file your return. Find out about commercial tax

stand what needs to be done to resolve it, and stay

preparation and e-file services available free to eligi-

with you every step of the way until your problem is

ble taxpayers.

resolved.

•

Check the status of your 2009 refund. Go to

•

TAS has at least one local taxpayer advocate in

and click on Where’s My Refund. Wait

every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto

at least 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt

Rico. You can call your local advocate, whose num-

of your e-filed return, or 3 to 4 weeks after mailing a

ber is in your phone book, in Pub. 1546, Taxpayer

paper return. If you filed Form 8379 with your return,

Advocate Service —Your Voice at the IRS, and on

wait 14 weeks (11 weeks if you filed electronically).

our website at /advocate. You can also

Have your 2009 tax return available so you can

call our toll-free line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD

provide your social security number, your filing sta-

1-800-829-4059.

tus, and the exact whole dollar amount of your re-

•

You can learn about your rights and responsibilities

fund.

as a taxpayer by visiting our online tax toolkit at

•

Download forms, instructions, and publications.

•

Order IRS products online.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs). The Low In-

•

Research your tax questions online.

come Taxpayer Clinic program serves individuals who

•

have a problem with the IRS and whose income is below a

Search publications online by topic or keyword.

certain level. LITCs are independent from the IRS. Most

•

Use the online Internal Revenue Code, Regulations,

LITCs can provide representation before the IRS or in

or other official guidance.

court on audits, tax collection disputes, and other issues

•

for free or a small fee. If an individual’s native language is

View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in

not English, some clinics can provide multilingual informa-

the last few years.

tion about taxpayer rights and responsibilities. For more

•

Figure your withholding allowances using the with-

information, see Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer

holding calculator online at /individuals.

Clinic List. This publication is available at , by

•

calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676), or at your lo-

Determine if Form 6251 must be filed by using our

cal IRS office.

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Assistant.

Publication 524 (2009)

Page 11

Irs Publication 524 - Credit For The Elderly Or The Disabled - 2009 Page 11

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