State Announces Free Tax Preparation for Low Income Families

Department of Human Services offers extra help during tax season

SPRINGFIELD, IL -Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary James Dimas today announced free income tax preparation and electronic filing is available for low income workers and families. The services are provided free of charge at locations across the state to families with incomes up to $55,000 and individuals with annual incomes up to $30,000.

"Many low income families don't have access to affordable, professional tax preparation," said Dimas. "Filing tax returns can be complicated and we want as many Illinois workers as possible to be made aware of this free service."

Through a partnership between IDHS and tax assistance centers across the state including the Center for Economic Progress and Ladder Up, volunteers provide counseling and advise workers about withholding allowances, filing status, and other tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Volunteer tax preparers can assist in filing federal and state income tax returns for tax year 2016, and, in some cases, for prior years.

Last year, more than 29,000 Illinoisans received free income tax preparation assistance from over 1,800 volunteer tax preparers.

The Illinois Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting 2016 state and federal individual income tax returns on Monday, January 23rd. The 2017 tax filing deadline is Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Most sites will be open between January 21 and April 18, 2017.

Participants are asked to bring appropriate documentation and appointments are made on a first come, first served basis.

A complete listing of tax help sites and their hours of operations are available by visiting http://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/5/documents/CN16.1416.14S.pdf.