Tax Preparation Checklist...
Items to Bring to with You to Have Your Tax Return Prepared:
• YOU MUST BRING PHOTO IDENTIFICATION!
• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents
• A copy of last year’s Federal and State returns, if available
• Birth Dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit
• Other relevant information about income and expenses
• Total Paid for Day Care
• Day Care providers Identifying number
• NOTE: to file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, BOTH spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
• FREE TAX ORGANIZER

Taxpayer Assistance Centers

Service provided for Form 1040 filers with basic account and collection issues.  Call phone numbers for a recorded message regarding days and hours of service. Click here to find the IRS office nearest you or refer to the list below of offices in Texas:

• Abilene - 341 Pine St., 915-676-5709
• Amarillo - 7201 W. I-40, 806-359-2160
• Austin - 825 East Rundberg Ln., 512-499-5127
• Beaumont - 550 Fannin, 409-981-5760
• Corpus Christi - 555 N. Carancahua St., 361-903-1919
• Dallas - 1100 Commerce St., 214-767-2941
• DeSoto - 1801 N. Hampton, 214-767-2941
• El Paso - 700 E. San Antonio, 915-834-6508
• Farmers Branch - 4050 Alpha Rd., 214-767-2941
• Ft. Worth - 1515 Commerce, 817-978-3477
• Harlingen - 2701 S. 77 Sunshine Strip, 956-427-8961
• Houston -1919 Smith, 281-721-7021
• Houston - 8701 S. Gessner, 281-721-7021
• Houston - 8876 Gulf Freeway, 281-721-7021
• Houston - 12941 I-45 N., 281-721-7021
• Longview - 1800 NW Loop 281, 903-297-3142
• Lubbock - 1205 Texas Ave., 806-472-7582
• Midland - 1004 N. Big Spring, 915-686-9977
• San Angelo - 33 Twohig, 915-653-0082
• San Antonio - 5835 Callaghan Rd., 210-706-5250
• Texarkana - 500 N. Stateline St., 903-794-8214
• Tyler - 3372 S. Loop 323, 903-561-2732
• Waco - 6801 Sanger Ave., 254-741-2312
• Wichita Falls - 4309 Jacksboro Hwy., 940-766-6317
  

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low-to-moderate income (earning less than $40,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations from February 1st through April 15th. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040. 

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)

The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax help to people age 60 and older. Trained volunteers from non-profit organizations provide free tax counseling and basic income tax return preparation for senior citizens. Volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS. For more information on TCE call 1-800-829-1040. 

As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 9,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special attention to those age 60 and older. AARP Tax-Aide services are available from February 1 through April 15.  In 2005 in Texas, 1,857 volunteers helped more than 127,000 people. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP's Tax-Aide site.

Military personnel and their families get free tax help!

The military is one of our strongest partners in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families.

Marines, airmen, soldiers, sailors, and guardsmen, and their families worldwide get tax preparation help at offices within their installations. These VITA sites provide free tax advice, tax preparation, and assistance to military members and their families. They are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the new Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) guidelines. The military tax programs generated over 400,000 electronic 2002 federal income tax returns.

Commanders support the program by detailing service members to prepare returns and by providing space and equipment for tax centers. The IRS supports these efforts by providing tax software and by training service members to prepare taxes at the military sites.

Most service members file their tax returns electronically at their tax centers and, by selecting direct deposit, receive their refunds in as little as one week. This combined effort ensures that service members receive free tax assistance from well-trained and equipped military tax preparers.

The Internal Revenue Service was surprised to receive a letter which read,
"Dear IRS, Last year I cheated on my taxes and I can't sleep because I keep thinking about it. I am therefore enclosing a check for $2,000. If I still can't sleep, I'll send you the rest."