Before you start
US federal individual tax-help navigation, checked September 15, 2026. Program availability, eligibility and volunteer expertise vary. Publication 4681 available at review is for 2025; confirm the actual tax year and state-return scope.
1. Identify the service you actually need
Describe the tax year, debt type and whether you have a 1099-C, property transfer, joint borrower, bankruptcy or insolvency question. Keep the description brief and free of identifying numbers. A simple form-entry question can become a more complex return once exclusions or property are involved. If an IRS notice has a response date, mention that during intake; searching for help does not extend it.
2. Contact a VITA or TCE site before visiting
Use the IRS free-preparation page’s locator and current eligibility information. VITA means Volunteer Income Tax Assistance; TCE means Tax Counseling for the Elderly and emphasizes older taxpayers’ needs. Ask whether the specific site has volunteers qualified for your issue and whether the entire return is within its scope. Do not assume it handles insolvency or Form 982. Ask about the relevant tax year, amendments, state returns, appointments and current opening dates.
3. Use a tax clinic for the right kind of problem
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, or LITCs, are independent of the IRS and may offer free or low-cost representation in IRS disputes, including audits, appeals and collection matters. They are not a general replacement for return preparation. Use the IRS clinic information and linked directory to find a service, then confirm income and case eligibility, geographical coverage, capacity and language help. An intake request is not acceptance of representation.
4. Bring a complete private document folder
After the site confirms scope, follow its official identity and return-document checklist through its secure in-person or approved process. Keep IDs and tax numbers off this page. Bring canceled-debt forms, settlement and payment records, relevant prior returns, notices and any dated valuation evidence. If the case is outside scope, ask for a referral and confirm the next provider’s charges and experience. Retain a backup plan if the appointment cannot cover the question.
Fictional example: check the documents
A fictional intake summary says: “2025 return; Form A reports $6,000 canceled card debt; possible insolvency; no IRS dispute notice.” The volunteer site confirms it cannot handle this particular insolvency review and offers a referral. The reader asks the referred preparer about scope and cost before booking.
The $6,000 identifies a document amount, not tax due or confirmed taxable income. Calling an LITC solely because preparation was unavailable would not establish eligibility for clinic representation. If an IRS dispute later arises, its notice and response date create a separate intake question.
Before you finish
- One-sentence task and actual tax year
- Site confirmation of whole-return scope
- Current eligibility, appointment and language details
- Private form, agreement, payment and notice folder
- Referral, fee confirmation and backup action
My preparation notes
All notes are optional. Use labels such as Debt A and Document B. Keep identifying records, account numbers and tax IDs outside this page.
Entries are optional and stay in this page's memory. This worksheet does not send or save them. Use generic account labels and document labels. Do not enter account numbers, Social Security numbers, PINs, access codes, passwords, names or addresses, and do not upload documents. Downloading or printing creates a copy you control.
Rely on the appointment only after the provider confirms it can address the actual task.
Put up to four documents or actions in order
Record a short fact, such as requested a quote, sent a question, or received written terms. Dates and document labels are optional. Use generic labels; keep actual documents and identifying details outside this tool.
This is a factual log. Dated events sort from oldest to newest. Events on the same date keep their entry order because times are unknown. Undated events appear separately, in entry order. A document reference is your own label, not proof that a record was verified.
Enter actual dates as YYYY-MM-DD. If a date is unknown, leave it blank; do not invent one. Dates are calendar dates, with no time zone or time-of-day comparison. This record does not calculate a legal deadline or schedule reminders.
Questions you may have
Does meeting VITA income guidelines guarantee service?
No. The particular return must be in scope and a site needs the required volunteer expertise and availability. Confirm before visiting.
Will an LITC prepare any return free?
Do not assume that. LITCs focus on eligible tax controversies and rights education; ask the clinic about your specific need and any fee.