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How To Get Tax Help If you have questions about a tax is- sue; need help preparing your tax re- turn; or want to download free publica- tions, forms, or instructions, go to IRS.gov to find resources that can help you right away. Preparing and filing your tax return. After receiving all your wage and earn- ings statements (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.); unemployment compensation state- ments (by mail or in a digital format) or other government payment statements (Form 1099-G); and interest, dividend, and retirement statements from banks and investment firms (Forms 1099), you have several options to choose from to prepare and file your tax return. You can prepare the tax return your- self, see if you qualify for free tax prep- aration, or hire a tax professional to prepare your return. For 2021, if you received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), refer to your Notice 1444-C, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment. If you received Advance Child Tax Credit payments, refer to your Letter 6419. Free options for tax preparation. Go to IRS.gov to see your options for preparing and filing your return online or in your local community, if you qual- ify, which include the following. • Free File. This program lets you prepare and file your federal indi- vidual income tax return for free us- ing brand-name tax-prepara- tion-and-filing software or Free File fillable forms. However, state tax preparation may not be available through Free File. Go to IRS.gov/ FreeFile to see if you qualify for free online federal tax preparation, e-filing, and direct deposit or pay- ment options. • VITA. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people with low-to-moderate incomes, persons with disabilities, and limited-Eng- lish-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their own tax re- turns. Go to IRS.gov/VITA, down- load the free IRS2Go app, or call CAUTION ! 800-906-9887 for information on free tax return preparation. • TCE. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particu- larly those who are 60 years of age and older. TCE volunteers special- ize in answering questions about pensions and retirement-related is- sues unique to seniors. Go to IRS.gov/TCE, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 888-227-7669 for information on free tax return preparation. • MilTax. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and qualified veter- ans may use MilTax, a free tax service offered by the Department of Defense through Military One- Source. For more information, go to MilitaryOneSource (MilitaryOneSource.mil/Tax). Also, the IRS offers Free Fillable Forms, which can be completed online and then filed electronically regardless of income. Using online tools to help prepare your return. Go to IRS.gov/Tools for the following. • The Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant (IRS.gov/EITCAssistant) determines if you’re eligible for the earned income credit (EIC). • The Online EIN Application (IRS.gov/EIN) helps you get an employer identification number (EIN) at no cost. • The Tax Withholding Estimator (IRS.gov/W4app) makes it easier for everyone to pay the correct amount of tax during the year. The tool is a convenient, online way to check and tailor your withholding. It’s more user-friendly for taxpay- ers, including retirees and self-em- ployed individuals. The features in- clude the following. ▶ Easy to understand language. ▶ The ability to switch between screens, correct previous entries, and skip screens that don’t apply. ▶ Tips and links to help you de- termine if you qualify for tax credits and deductions. ▶ A progress tracker. ▶ A self-employment tax fea- ture. ▶ Automatic calculation of taxa- ble social security benefits. • The First-Time Homebuyer Credit Account Look-up (IRS.gov/ HomeBuyer) tool provides informa- tion on your repayments and ac- count balance. • The Sales Tax Deduction Calculator (IRS.gov/SalesTax) fig- ures the amount you can claim if you itemize deductions on Sched- ule A (Form 1040). Getting answers to your tax questions. On IRS.gov, you can get up-to-date information on current events and changes in tax law. • IRS.gov/Help: A variety of tools to help you get answers to some of the most common tax questions. • IRS.gov/ITA: The Interactive Tax Assistant, a tool that will ask you questions and, based on your in- put, provide answers on a number of tax law topics. • IRS.gov/Forms: Find forms, in- structions, and publications. You will find details on 2021 tax changes and hundreds of interac- tive links to help you find answers to your questions. • You may also be able to access tax law information in your electronic filing software. Need someone to prepare your tax return? There are various types of tax return preparers, including tax pre- parers, enrolled agents, certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys, and many others who don’t have professio- nal credentials. If you choose to have someone prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely. A paid tax preparer is: • Primarily responsible for the overall substantive accuracy of your re- turn, • Required to sign the return, and • Required to include their preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Publication 929 (2021) Page 25