We carry an extensive variety of free 2009 federal and state income tax forms at the Des Plaines Public Library. These include the “Circuit Breaker” packet, which consists of form IL-1363, application for a Circuit Breaker grant, Illinois Cares Rx, and a license plate discount. Click here for the most recent list of available forms. Forms are available on the 4th floor.
Midnight on Thursday, April 15, 2010, the time/date by which 2009 income taxes must be filed, will be here before we know it. Listed below are places to turn if you feel confounded by the task of doing your taxes yourself and are searching for free help.
AARP - Free tax preparation assistance services at the Des Plaines Public Library is now available. Appointment times for AARP income tax preparation at the Library are filling up. We suggest you call the Library as soon as possible to make your appointment. - Preference is given to serving adults age 55 and older, with a total annual income of $75,000 or less.
- All taxpayers must come to the appointment, e.g., both husband and wife if married filing jointly.
- Call the library at 847-376-2788 or 376-2787 to make an appointment.
- Taxpayers need to bring to their appointment all 2009 documents relating to the following:
- Copy of 2009 income tax return;
- W-2 forms – salary, wages, etc.;
- 1099-DIV, 1099-INT – interest and dividend income statements;
- 1099-MISC – miscellaneous income;
- 1099-R, SSA-1099, Pension, Social Security, IRA and Railroad Retirement statements;
- Proof of any itemized deductions, e.g., charitable contributions, non-reimbursed medical expenses, interest on home mortgage payments;
- Real estate tax bill, even if not itemizing deductions;
- Social Security card for each taxpayer;
- Social Security card and date of birth for any dependents to be claimed on your income tax return;
- Sales tax receipt of new vehicle purchased in 2009.
- If you do not have all of your tax documents in time for your appointment, please reschedule your meeting. If you cannot keep your appointment due to illness or another reason, please call to reschedule.
AARP - AARP volunteers will be at the Frisbie Senior Center starting February 8, 2010 (until April 12) to prepare income taxes free of charge. Appointments are now being taken for 9 a.m. until 12 noon on Mondays only. No residency requirements, e.g., don’t have to live in Des Plaines to make an appointment. Use the list of documents above to be sure you are prepared for your appointment. Phone is: 847-768-5944. The Frisbie Senior Center is at 52 East Northwest Highway, Des Plaines, IL.
IRS Office, Schiller Park, IL
5100 River Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
847-671-7541
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30
The IRS office prepares federal income tax forms for lower-income taxpayers at no charge. No appointments are taken. There is no live assistance at the telephone number listed above. Click here to see if you qualify for free income tax preparation at an IRS office:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/tax-prep-criteria.pdf
For assistance with specific tax questions, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to speak to a person. For business-related questions, call: 1-800-829-4933.
State tax assistance from the Illinois Department of Revenue
For assistance by phone with Illinois income tax questions, you can call the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) at 1-800-732-8866 or 217-782-3336 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf) number is 1-800-544-5304.
IDOR has a Business Hot Line for businesses and tax professionals. It is available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday: 217- 524-4772.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
VITA offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income ($49,000 a year or less) taxpayers at a variety of locations in metropolitan Chicago. In our area, the nearest location is CEDA - see details below. Income tax preparation is available in English and, to a limited degree, in Spanish, from January 30 through April 10. Bring all required tax-related information (see list above).
The nearest VITA location is:CEDA
1300 West Northwest Highway
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
847-392-2332
- From January 30-April 10, 2010, taxpayers who earn under $49,000 (gross) a year, are welcome to go to CEDA in Mt. Prospect to have basic 2009 income taxes prepared for free.
- Income tax preparation will be on Saturdays only, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
- There are no appointments; income tax preparation will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Be sure to bring all of the necessary information. E-filing is available.
- There is no residency requirement (you don’t have to live in Mt. Prospect.)
- Can ask for Esperanza, extension, 250, if you have questions. She said their program mostly focuses on low-income people.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), three other VITA locations are:
Park Ridge: Maine Township office, 1700 Ballard Rd. Appointments now are being taken for tax preparation between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, February 8 until April 9. To qualify, taxpayers’ annual income cannot exceed $60,000. There are other requirements as well. Bring all necessary information. Tax preparation is in English only. E-filing is available. Phone: 847-297-2510.
Chicago (Rogers Park): 1623 W. Howard Ave. No appointments necessary. Come Wednesdays from 5:30 until 8 p.m. and Thursdays from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. Tax preparation is available in English and Spanish. E-filing is available. Bring all necessary information. No phone number was provided.
Chicago: Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave. No appointments necessary. Come Saturdays between January 23 and April 10 between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. (No tax preparation on March 6 and April 13.) Tax preparation is available in English only. E-filing is available. Bring all necessary information. No phone number was provided.
Evanston: LIFT-Evanston, 1932 Dewey Avenue, 3rd floor (in the Faith Temple Church). Their income “cap” for tax preparation is $20,000 a year for individuals; for those with qualifying dependents or married, the “cap” is $38,000 a year. Preparation is by appointment only on the following days and times between February 1 and April 9: Monday and Thursday, 1-5 p.m.; Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m; and Saturdays--February 6 and February 27, March 20 and April 3--10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tax preparation is available in English, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. E-filing is available. Bring all necessary information. Call: 847-491-6707.
1/26/2010 GL, KSM, JF
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