Lake County Gazette

The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced that qualifying taxpayers in Illinois can now avail free income tax preparation assistance for filing their 2023 income taxes. This service is being provided through trusted programs such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program (TAP).

The IRS offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, which provide free basic tax return preparation for individuals who need assistance. According to the IRS, this service is available to those making $64,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers. The TCE program specifically caters to individuals aged 60 and above, offering specialized help with pension and retirement-related tax issues.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program focuses on providing free tax assistance to taxpayers over the age of 50 or those with low-to-moderate income. Membership with AARP is not a requirement to receive assistance through this program. Availability of assistance through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program is determined at the local or community level.

In the Chicagoland area, the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program (TAP) offers free basic tax return preparation for families and individuals with an annual income of up to $64,000 ($32,000 for individuals). It is important to note that this program only prepares returns for full-year Illinois residents and does not cater to military personnel or partial-year residents.

To learn more about free tax assistance programs and to find out the locations and timings of services, taxpayers can visit the Illinois Department of Revenue's website at tax.illinois.gov. For any additional questions, individuals can contact IDOR’s Taxpayer Assistance Division at 800-732-8866.

In-person assistance is also available at various IDOR offices located in Chicago, Des Plaines, Fairview Heights, Marion, Rockford, and Springfield. The staff at these locations are available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can assist with Illinois state income tax filing inquiries.

With the availability of these free income tax preparation programs, qualifying taxpayers in Illinois can now receive the necessary assistance to file their 2023 income taxes. This initiative aims to make the tax filing process easier and more accessible for individuals who may require assistance.