Free VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Help 

The City of Norwalk is pleased to announce the no cost, full-service VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program, providing free state and federal income tax preparation and e-filing, with special attention to seniors and low to moderate income households, will again be offered.  But, because of Covid restrictions there will be no on-site preparation this year at either City Hall or other Norwalk venues. 

Instead, there will be two options to access this service: An all-virtual method whereby clients will provide/upload their information via a secure internet site, probably from the comfort of their own homes; and a very limited on-site “scanning” method at the Main Library on Thursdays and at the South Norwalk Library on Saturdays. Watch video instructions. View document on how it works. View scanning locations and times.

Across the nation, during the last full tax season, 65,000 IRS-certified volunteers provided this service at more than 9,000 sites.  Some three and a half million taxpayer returns were prepared and filed via this service throughout the country.  In Connecticut 52,000 federal returns were processed, in addition to an equal number of state returns and many amended filings from prior years. Over 1,700 of these were filed at the Libraries and at our companion site at City Hall, with $2 million in federal refunds being returned, 53% of which were from tax credits such as for earned income and education. 

Before starting either the all-virtual or “scanning” processes taxpayers must have the following types of information available: 

Identity Documentation

- Government Issued Photo ID.
- Social Security or ITIN numbers for all taxpayers and dependents.
- Bank account/routing numbers (blank check preferable), if expecting a refund.  

All 2020 income report forms received:

- SSA1099 if you were paid Social Security benefits.
- W-2(s) from your employer(s).
- W-2G from gambling winnings.
- 1099G from unemployment compensation payments.
- 1099s: Bank interest, stock dividends, retirement distributions, broker statements.

 Other Important Documents

• Receipts for deductible expenses including real estate and vehicle taxes paid.
• Verification of the original purchase price of sold assets (home, stocks, etc.).
• Receipts/canceled checks if itemizing deductions (e.g., charity contributions).
• Form 1095-A if health insurance was from the Access Health Connecticut Marketplace.

 And Preferably, for Reference, A Copy of last year’s (TY 2019) Return  

The same IRS-Certified volunteers who have been serving our Norwalk area for years will be available (from their homes) to prepare taxpayer returns; and that the City of Norwalk is pleased to again partner with these IRS-certified preparers to offer this valuable service to the community.