Veterans Justice Outreach Program
The aim of the Veterans Justice Outreach program is to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extend incarceration among Veterans by ensuring that eligible, justice-involved Veterans have timely access to Veterans Health Administration services, as clinically indicated. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails and liaison with local justice system partners. For legal assistance, visit State Side Legal’s help page or contact the nearest VJO specialist, who may know of community legal assistance resources.
Online Services And Tools
Military members and veterans can leverage numerous free online tools to file their income taxes, including:
- IRS FreeFile: If you earn $66,000 or less, you are eligible for free name-brand filing software. If you earn more, you can still take advantage of free file fillable forms.
- Military OneSource MilTax: Provided by the Department of Defense, this e-filing software walks you through a series of questions to help you complete your tax return, with a special understanding of military life . Calculations are 100% accurate as guaranteed by the software provider.
- Turbo Tax Military Edition: Service members with pay grades of E1-E5 can get the software for free, while pay grades of E6 and above can get the software at a discounted price.
Aarp Others Offer Free Tax Prep Help To Veterans Military And Families
As we inch closer to the April 15 tax deadline, AARP Foundations Tax-Aide is among the programs aimed at helping the military community and others file their state and federal tax returns. Tax-Aide is free and available to all Veterans, military personnel and their families regardless of age or whether they are AARP members.
In this new environment of COVID, Tax-Aide has instituted a range of tax preparation assistance models that can help Veterans, those currently in the military and others, said Lynnette Lee-Villanueva, vice president and national director of AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. From safely delivered in-person service, virtual assistance and hybrid options we are here to help.
The nationwide tax help program is geared toward people 50 and older or those who have low to moderate incomes, but Tax-Aide is open to anyone free of charge. AARP membership isnt required to take advantage of Tax-Aides knowledgeable volunteers, nor will there be any sales pitch for other services.
If youd like to look for an appointment to receive tax filing assistance from AARP Foundations Tax-Aide, .
Due to the pandemic, Tax-Aide availability is limited this year. Other programs offering free tax help include Tax Counseling for the Elderly , Volunteer Income Tax Assistance , IRS Free File and MilTax.
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Options For Tax Preparation
United Way of Central Alabama is providing tax services again this year. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we have established new processes to assist you with your taxes in a safe and secure manner.
Preparing Your Own Return
If you are interested in preparing your own return, MyFreeTaxes.com now offers FREE online software for your state and federal returns. There are no income limits for this service. Telephone support is available for prompt answers to any questions you may have.
If there are additional questions about getting taxes prepared for free, please call 2-1-1 or 1-888-421-1266.
Tax Preparation by United Way Volunteers
United Way of Central Alabama offers free volunteer tax preparation for households with annual income of $54,000 or less.
In order to safely serve you, United Way is offering a contact-free, online intake for volunteer tax preparation this year. For an appointment, or to request accommodations, please call 2-1-1 or 1-888-421-1266.
Who Qualifies for Free Tax Preparation?
- If you earn $54,000 or less per year, you qualify for free tax assistance provided by United Way. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-421-1266 for appointment information.
- If you are interested in preparing your own returns, you can file online for free. There is NO income limit to file state and federal taxes at MyFreeTaxes.com.
What Information Do Tax Filers Need to Gather to be Ready for Tax Preparation?
Free And Discounted Tax Preparation For Military
Tax season is here again. And while filing for tax returns can be tricky for the average family, it can get even more complicated for military families.
Thankfully, military personnel and their families have access to a variety of tax preparation and filing services for free or discounted prices. Whether you choose to file taxes yourself online or you prefer some outside assistance from a trained professional, there are a several free and discounted options to choose from.
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Free Tax Return Preparation For Veterans
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify — and they want to be sure that eligible local veterans also benefit frm this service.
VITAThe VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $50,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation to qualified individuals in local communities. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations.
Filing Taxes As A Veteran
Being prepared well in advance is one of the best ways to enhance your chances of great success with free tax filing for Veterans. Many people are using this season to get organized and to plan ahead, making it easy to take advantage of free tax filing for Veterans programs. Tax filing assistance for Veterans is available, but given how backed up the IRS is and how busy these programs will get closer to April 15th, its good to get a head start by pulling together all your documents now.
Read on to learn more about some of the best tips for free tax filing for Veterans and what to do to increase your chances of getting the maximum tax return in a timely manner.
Bear in mind that submitting paper returns is not recommended in 2022 because the IRS is overwhelmed with paper. The earlier you can submit your return with the appropriate documents digitally, the higher your chances of getting your refunds quickly.
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Veterans Day Free Meals
To honor members of the military, these restaurants are offering veterans free meals on or around Veterans Day, November 11.
110 Grill — Veterans and active-duty military get a complimentary lunch from a select menu from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm on .
151 Coffee — Veterans and their families get free drinks on
54th Street Grill — Veterans and active-duty military get a free meal up to $14 on . Dine-in only.
Ample Hills Creamery — On , veterans and active-duty service members get a free kids scoop.
Another Broken Egg Cafe — Veterans and active-duty service members can enjoy a free Patriot French Toast Combo and coffee on Dine-in only.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza— Veterans and active-duty military get a free 12 cheese pizza on for dine-in, phone or orders placed for pickup online with promo code VETERANS.
Applebee’s — Veterans and active-duty military receive a free meal when dining in from a special menu on . And when dining in on November 11, military guests will receive a $5 bounce back card to redeem for dine-in, To Go or delivery within three weeks.
Aspen Creek Grill— Veterans and active-duty military get a complimentary meal from a special menu from open until 6 p.m. on .
Aspen Tap House — Veterans and active-duty military get a complimentary shareable from its menu from open to close on .
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii — Active-duty and retired military get a free medium cup of brewed coffee at participating locations on .
Calhoun’s— Veterans get a free meal on .
Other Tax Filing Services
In addition to providing free e-file services through H& R Block at Home, Military OneSource has qualified tax consultants available to answer tax questions for military members. The website also contains a wealth of resources to help you as you prepare your tax return, including checklists of common errors and tips to consider when preparing your taxes.
Many local military installations have representatives from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Troops and their families may work with volunteers on military bases to find answers to complicated tax questions or receive help in preparing their taxes. The Armed Forces Tax Council also provides free tax preparation and filing services for military members and families on local military installations.
When seeking free tax preparation and filing services from military sources, be sure to have all pertinent financial and tax documents on hand. Documents you should provide include:
- All W-2s and earning statements
- Interest statements
- Evidence of charitable contributions
- A checkbook for direct deposit information
You will be required to provide photo identification, Social Security numbers and birth dates to verify the accuracy of all information provided and help complete your tax return.
Visit the Military OneSource Tax Filing Service page for more information. You can also call a Military OneSource Tax Consultant for free at 1-800-342-9647.
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Free Tax Prep For Veterans
Free tax preparation is an easy, cost-effective, untapped resource for most Veteran serving organizations. Some Veterans do not file their taxes because they believe they dont have enough income to do so and are unaware of tax credits and other potential benefits to filing. While others may be paying way too much to have their taxes filed when they could be receiving this service for FREE.
Free Tax Preparation Services
Each year, millions of people have their taxes prepared for free by IRS-certified volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs have helped people for more than 40 years. Over 1.3million free tax returns were prepared for Veterans since the inception of the MOU at nearly 8,000 free tax preparation sites across the country. Here are some details about VITA and TCE:
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Financial Education And Asset Building
Our partners recognize that financial education and asset building starts with ensuring individuals and families receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. These include the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits, nutrition assistance, health insurance, heating/cooling allowance support and other national and local benefit programs. Many SPEC partners have incorporated financial education and asset building programs and services such as income support, debt and credit counseling, financial education training, banking education, home ownership and small business management into their free tax return preparation activities.
Military Onesource H& r Block At Home
Military OneSource, a service of the Department of Defense designed to provide a wealth of information to military members and their spouses, has partnered with H& R Block to offer H& R Block at Home to service members and their families. Through this program, military members have the ability to file their federal taxes and up to three state tax returns for free. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, military members and their families must create an account with Military OneSource and login to the H& R Block at Home program through the Military OneSource website.
Some of the benefits provided by the H& R Block at Home program include:
- Their promise to pay fees and penalties if your return is incorrect
- Access to Military OneSource tax consultants
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Programs For Homeless Veterans
VA’s specialized programs for homeless Veterans serve hundreds of thousands of homeless and at-risk Veterans each year. Independently and in collaboration with federal and community partners, VA programs provide Veterans with housing solutions, employment opportunities, health care, justice- and reentry-related services and more. Learn more about these programs at VA Programs for At-Risk Veterans and Their Families.
Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless can call or visit their local VA Medical Center or Community Resource and Referral Center where VA staff are ready to help. Many CRRCs offer free tax preparation services. VA and other organizations work together through neighborhood Stand Downs to help Veterans who are homeless. The IRS attends many Stand Down events and provide services such as help with IRS letters, notices and levies on wages or bank accounts as well as free tax preparation. Also, the Taxpayer Advocate Service often attends to ensure that every Veteran is treated fairly.
State Tax Filing For Military Members And Veterans
When filing your taxes, you may or may not receive assistance for state tax preparation, too. Be sure to ask if state tax filing is supported, and what additional requirements may be needed to get your state tax breaks for military service, where applicable.
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There are a few tricky state tax issues including two-state residency, deployment issues, and whether or not a member must file even if their income is completely exempt from state taxation. Military spouses may have complicated tax situations, especially when it comes to those who have moved to a new state to join the military but are still considered residents of another state.
Federal law affects how these situations may be handled, be sure to ask your tax prep agent whether provisions of the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act of 2009 apply to your state tax filing.
Tax relief, exemptions, breaks, and exclusions for members of the military are not standardized from state to state. You may need to consult your states official site to learn what to do in order to claim exemptions or other entitlements.
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
Military members, including retirees, are eligible to receive free tax consultation and preparation at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance locations.
Take command of your taxes. The VITA program, offered through the Armed Forces Tax Council, provides coordinators for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. VITA specialists are trained to address military-specific tax issues such as combat-zone benefits and applying Earned Income Credit guidelines. They oversee the operation of military tax programs worldwide and serve as the main IRS outreach for military personnel and their families. The VITA locations listed are on military installations but VITA support may not be available in every state or at every installation.
Military Installation Tax Centers
Many large military installations worldwide offer service members and their families free income tax filing assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program which is sponsored by the IRS. VITA sites have volunteers that are trained by the IRS to provide assistance with some of the more complicated military-specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax exclusions.
Visit Military.com’s Base Guide to contact your local installation for more information about location of tax centers, hours of operation, scheduling appointments, and necessary documentation.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is also teaming with H& R Block to offer tax preparation services to military members and their families at a 10% discount in select Exchange locations around the world. for the list of participating Exchanges.
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Military Onesource Resources For Transitioning Service Members And Families
Military OneSource is a program funded by the Department of Defense that provides a range of free resources for Veterans and their immediate family up to 365 days after separation or retirement from the military. MilTax, Military OneSources tax services, provides online software for eligible individuals to electronically file a federal and up to three state returns for free through the Military OneSource website. The service also includes tax consultants available by phone to answer tax questions related to deployment, multi-state filing, and combat pay. They also share information on military-specific and civilian tax deductions and credits.
Military OneSource is available 24/7 at and online at MilitaryOneSource.mil.
Documents You Will Need To File Taxes As A Veteran Or Currently Serving Military Member
When using any tax prep software, service, or assistance, youll need to have some important paperwork ready. Last years tax returns are at the top of this list, but also a current Leave & Earnings Statement or the equivalent, your military W-2s, copies of any relevant orders including deployment/TDY/training that might be used to document any related benefits or tax breaks you have earned as a result of those orders.
You may also need to provide the following:
- Social Security Card/SSNs for all claimed on the tax return
- Documentation of any changes in marital status/dependents from last year
- Real estate tax documents including mortgage interest statements
- Alimony, child support, or related payment agreements
- Investment tax form data or information that shows your taxable investment activity
- Any documented income from rental properties
- Documentation related to GI Bill benefits, earned income credit, etc.
- Military ID or state ID
- Records of moving expenses related to a new military assignment, retirement, separation, etc.
- Receipts/documentation for deductibles
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