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Free 2009 Income Tax Help at the Dallas Public Library:
February 1st - April 15th, 2010

Calendar
 

Please note:

  • Schedules are subject to change. Please call to confirm times.
  • Individuals obtain W-2 forms from their employer. (If you are filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit and have not claimed this previously, you may wish to bring the last three years returns.)
  • Please note that, as the season goes on, lines get longer. It is helpful to come a bit earlier. Service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

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You may qualify for these tax credits!

  • Economic Stimulus Payment Information Center: Most taxpayers who received the economic stimulus payment last year will not qualify for the recovery rebate credit on their 2008 federal income tax return. However, some individuals who did not get the economic stimulus payment, and a smaller number of those who did, may be eligible for the recovery rebate credit. If you didn't get an economic stimulus payment in 2008, you may be eligible to receive the recovery rebate credit in 2009 (Economic Stimulus Payment Information Center).
  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): A special tax benefit for people who work full- or part-time. If you qualify, you'll owe less in taxes, and you may get cash back. Even if you don't owe income tax you can get the credit. But, you must file a federal tax return. Note that you may be eligible to receive this benefit for prior years, if you have not already claimed it, by filing amended tax returns. For this purpose, the IRS may accept transcripts of your previous year filings, available free of charge from the IRS. You may also request transcripts by calling 1-800-829-1040. Please allow up to two weeks for delivery. (Note: If you have been eligible to receive this credit, but did not claim it, you may be able to claim this benefit for the previous three years and for this year as well simply by filing amended returns. Tax volunteers should be able to help you in this regard.) For more information, please see the IRS EITC web page. Podcasts about the are available in English and in Spanish.
  • Child Tax Credit: Families earning more than $10,350 may now qualify for the Child Tax Credit -- up to $1000 for each dependent child under age 17! See the instructions for form 1040 or 1040A and attach Form 8812.
  • Child & Dependent Care Credit: If you paid someone to care for a qualifying dependent so you could work or look for work, you may be eligible to claim this benefit.
  • Retirement Savings Tax Credit: If you make eligible contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), you may be able to take a tax credit.

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AARP Tax Assistance

Mondays, 12 noon - 4:30 p.m. (except Feb. 15) *
Hampton Illinois Branch 2951 S. Hampton Rd. 214-670-7646

 
Tuesdays, 12 noon - 4 p.m. *
Audelia Road Branch 10045 Audelia Rd. 214-670-1350
Fretz Park Branch 6990 Belt Line Rd. 214-670-6421
Lakewood Branch 6121 Worth St. 214-670-1376
North Oak Cliff Branch 302 W. Tenth St. 214-670-7555
Park Forest Branch 3421 Forest Ln. 214-670-6333
Skillman Southwestern Branch 5707 Skillman St. 214-670-6078

Wednesdays, 12 noon - 4 p.m.*
Bachman Lake Branch 9480 Webb Chapel Rd. 214-670-6376

Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Martin Luther King Jr. Branch 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 214-670-0344

Thursdays, 12 noon - 4 p.m.*
Central Library 1515 Young St., 6th floor 214-670-1468
Forest Green Branch 9015 Forest Ln. 214-670-1335
Oak Lawn Branch 4100 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-670-1359
Preston Royal Branch 5626 Royal Ln. 214-670-7128

Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.* (except Feb. 12th)
Pleasant Grove Branch 1125 S. Buckner Blvd. 214-670-0965

Saturdays 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Grauwyler Park 2146 Gilford St. 214-671-1447
 

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VITA Tax Assistance: Low-Income, Elderly, Non-English Speaking & Special Needs (starts Jan. 30th)

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.*
Central Library 1515 Young St., 6th floor 214-670-1468

Wednesdays, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.*
Skillman Southwestern Branch 5707 Skillman St. 214-670-6078

Thursdays 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.*
Pleasant Grove Branch 1125 S. Buckner Blvd. 214-670-0965

Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. *
Fretz Park Branch 6990 Belt Line Rd. 214-670-6421

Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.*
Central Library (except March) 1515 Young St., 6th floor 214-670-1468
Hampton Illinois Branch 2951 S. Hampton Rd. 214-670-7646
Martin Luther King Jr. Branch (starting in February) 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 214-670-0344

Individuals must obtain W-2 and 1099 forms from the IRS.

* Schedule subject to change: Call to confirm date and time.

Tax forms are available at these locations:   

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IRS Telephone Assistance

1-800 numbers are FREE calls! It is best to call during the following times: 8:00 a.m.& 3:00-4:30pm.  (See also the Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Farmers Branch, Desoto and in downtown Dallas. There is one number for these offices: 214-413-6010.)

  • Tele-Tax (recorded information) / 1-800-829-4477
  • Tax Information & Notice Inquiries / 1-800-829-1040
  • Referral to the Problem Resolution Program / 1-800-829-1040
  • Forms & Publications Hotline / 1-800-829-3676
  • Hearing Impaired (TDD)/ 1-800-829-4059

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What current tax forms are available at the Dallas Public Library?
Answer: Commonly used reproducible, personal income tax forms, instruction booklets and schedules may be available at many Branch Libraries for the current year.  The Government Information Center, (Central Library, 6th floor) has handout copies, plus reproducible copies of most IRS publications as well as some of the less frequently used schedules and forms.  Call our service desk at 214-670-1468 or the Branch location closest you to inquire about specific forms. 

Question:  Where can I obtain older tax forms and instruction booklets?
Answer: The Government Information Center (Central Library, 6th floor) has most 1040 series forms, schedules and booklets between 1989 and the present.  (We also have a few forms and booklets from 1984-88.) The IRS has online all forms and publications since1992.

Question:  How does the IRS Forms & Publications Hotline (1-800-829-3676) work?
Answer:  You may request free forms or publications which are then sent to you by postal mail.  Please allow up to 10 days to receive these. (Alternatively, you may request forms and publications by fax at 1-703-368-9694.)

Question: Can you supply me with a W2 form?
Answer: W2 forms, which indicate how much you earned and how much tax has been withheld from your pay during the year, must be obtained from your employer. If you are unable to get one from your employer by Feb. 14th, follow these instructions.

Question: Why does the library not supply copies of certain forms?
Answer: Information Returns (all series of Forms W-2, W-3, 1096, 1098, 1099, and 5498), and employer products can be ordered from the Online Ordering for Information Returns and Employer Returns page. The IRS does not send these forms to libraries. You may also order them by telephone. Simply call 1-800-829-3676 and leave a message stating which ones you would like to receive. Employers can also purchase certain blank forms in packets of 25 from stores such as Office Depot. These may also be available, locally, at the Earl Cabell Federal Building in downtown Dallas or at one of the other tax offices (i.e. in Desoto or Farmers Branch)

Question:  Can I file my taxes electronically (e-file) from the Library?
Answer: The Library has no provision for electronic filing of income taxes from our public access Internet computers.  However, our income tax volunteers do submit your returns electronically. 

Question:  How can you obtain copies of the tax forms you filed in previous years?
Answer: Information answering this question is available on the IRS website. For many purposes, it may be sufficient to obtain a free transcript, as opposed to a copy of the actual return.

Question: How can I find out the status of my tax return?
Answer: Use this webpage to determine whether or not your return has already been processed and mailed to you.

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