Where to Find Free, Trustworthy Tax Help

You are not alone in this process. Many retirees find taxes complex, and there are excellent, free resources available specifically to help older adults and those with moderate incomes. If you feel unsure about filing on your own, please consider these trusted programs.

The IRS sponsors two main programs staffed by certified volunteers:

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): Provides free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Provides free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals, generally those who make $64,000 or less (for tax year 2023), persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

You can find a local VITA or TCE site through the official IRS free tax prep locator tool.

Additionally, the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program offers free tax preparation help to anyone, with a focus on taxpayers who are 50 and older and have low to moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they know about and understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.