INDIANAPOLIS — Tax prep services can be expensive, but there's a way to get your taxes done for free.
Indy Free Tax Prep offers assistance to individuals and families with a combined household income of $66,000 or less in 2021.
Who's using it?
It's a service that John Price and his wife have been using for more than a decade.
"I like the people. [They] are very friendly, very professional, they care about what they do," Price said. "Never had any mistakes here."
Price said he's tried other services and he was unhappy with the results.
"It cost me a lot of money, and they don't do a good job. Never had any mistakes here," Price said.
Price said he dropped off his documents and two weeks or so later, came back to sign off on everything.
Tina Young is another longtime customer who is grateful for the guidance.
"I couldn't figure it out on my own," Young laughed, "I'm not sure if it (information) goes here or there and I didn't want to make mistakes."
Margie Worrell with United Way said they found that some families were paying more to get their taxes prepared than what they were getting back.
"It's the difference between being able to have your medications, being able to have rent, being able to pay for things for your child's school," Worrell said.
Do I qualify?
Outside of the household income, there are few exclusions.
Indy Free Tax Prep is "not available if, in 2020, you owned or sold rental property; sold a business; had more than $35,000 in business expenses; or bought/sold stocks, bonds, or mutual funds."
If you make more than $66,000, you are eligible for the free online service. It's available until the end of May 2022.
How do I sign up?
If you want to use the in-person service, they have locations in Boone, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.
Some locations require an appointment while others are walk-in only. The service continues through May 3.
Volunteers stress the sooner you can file, the better.
Here are the required documents:
- Valid photo ID
- Social Security cards or ITIN cards for all persons on the return
- W2 forms for all employment for the year
- Forms 1095-A, Affordable Health Care Statements if insured through the Marketplace
- All 1099 forms received, including 1099 SSA from the Social Security Administration and unemployment statements
- Education expense receipts and Form 1098
- Child care receipts, along with provider’s address and Social Security number/Employer Identification Number
- Real estate property tax receipts
- Landlord name and address
- Bank, credit union, or prepaid card account and routing number
- Copy of last year's tax return (not required but helpful to have)
- Letter 6475 – Economic Payment* (Applicable to people who received the Economic Impact Payment in 2021) Letter 6419
- Advance Child Tax Credit* (Applicable to people who received the Advanced Child Tax Credit in 2021)