By Gina Mazza
Here in Allegheny County, a number of programs exist to help older adults prepare and file their income taxes, some at no cost. Check out our annual roundup of available programs that can help you file your annual federal, state and local returns with help from qualified tax preparers.
United Way of Allegheny County Free Income Tax Preparation
Program
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services and various other community partners host the United Way of Allegheny’s County Free Income Tax Preparation program. Free online tax assistance is available for individuals and families with a total annual income of up to $66,000. Households with a total annual income of up to $55,000 may qualify for free in-person tax preparation.
Appointments for free tax preparation are required and can be made now by dialing 2-1-1, texting 898-211, or visiting bit.ly/FreeTaxPrep2020. Dates and times vary by location.Tax sites around Allegheny County that are offering the Free Income Tax Preparation program include:
Additional Tax Preperation
Assitance is available through
AARP Tax-Aide by calling (888)
227-7669 or visiting aarp.org.
This free volunteer tax counseling and prepartion service is available to people of all ages of middle and low income. Special attention is given to those who are ages 50 years and older. Sites include senior centers, libraries and malls. For those unable to visit a site, home visits are available. Electronic
filing and online counseling are also available. Call or visit the above website to find a location.
Avalon/Bellevue
North Hills Community Outreach North Boroughs
939 California Ave., Pittsburgh
Baldwin
Just Harvest Education Fund at
SHIM Family Center
41 Macek Dr., Pittsburgh
Downtown
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
One Smithfield St., Downtown
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
305 Wood St., Downtown
Hazelwood
YMCA Greater Pittsburgh
5125 Second Ave., Pittsburgh
Hill District
Just Harvest Education Fund at Bedford Hope Center
2305 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh
Homewood
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
6907 Frankstown Ave., Homewood
YMCA Greater Pittsburgh
7140 Bennett St., Pittsburgh
Millvale
North Hills Community Outreach
416 Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh
Monroeville
Just Harvest Education Fund at CCAC Boyce Campus
595 Beatty Rd., Room N542, Monroeville
Moon
Robert Morris University
6001 University Blvd., Moon Township
Natrona Heights
Allegheny Valley Association of Churches
1913 Freeport Rd., Natrona Heights
North Side
Goodwill of SWPA/ Northside Common Ministries
1601 Brighton Rd., Pittsburgh
Oakland
Carnegie Library
4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland
South Side
Just Harvest Education Fund
16 Terminal Way, South Side
Strip District
Veterans Leadership Program
2934 Smallman St., Pittsburgh
Tarentum
Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Central Presbyterian Church
305 Allegheny St., Tarentum
Turtle Creek
Human Services Center Corporation
413 Penn Ave., Turtle Creek
Don’t forget to bring these items to the tax prepartion site when filing your returns:
* Photo ID (for you and your spouse, if filing jointly)
* Social Security card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for yourself, your spouse and each person to be claimed on your return
* Birthdates for every person on the return
* W-2 forms for all jobs held in 2019
* All 1099 forms, including income received from unemployment (1099-G), Social Security (1099-SSA), pension payments (1099-R), bank account interest (1099-INT), and dividends (1099-DIV)
* Form 1095 with health insurance information and/or health insurance exemption certificate. A list of who on your tax return had health insurance for 2019 and for which months they were covered
* Record of tuition payments (1098-T), student loan interest paid (1098-E), plus receipts for post-secondary materials and books
* If you paid for childcare: total expenses and name, address, and tax ID number of provider(s)
* Mortgage interest statement and property tax receipts, if you own a home
* Local tax forms or any tax booklets you’ve received in the mail
* Anything that says “This is important for your taxes”
* A copy of last year’s tax return (not necessary, but helpful)
* A 2019 paystub from each job if available (not required)
* Your spouse (to sign tax documents) if you are married filing jointly
* Your checkbook for the routing and account numbers for direct deposit