Last updated: February 2013

Getting Free Tax Help

You can get free assistance for filing your taxes. Clinics throughout the state offer tax counseling and tax return preparation for those who qualify.

Do I qualify?

The Center for Economic Progress offers free tax preparation in Illinois for:

• Families (more than one person in home) with income less than $50,000
• Individuals with income less than $25,000

Ladder Up offers free tax preparation in Chicago and its suburbs for:

• Families (more than one person in home) with income less than $45,000
• Individuals with income less than $20,000 

Find your free tax site

To find your nearest tax site visit:

• The Center for Economic Progress's Tax Help Sites
• Ladder Up's Tax Assistance Program

You should bring to your appointment: all W-2s and 1099 (if any); Social Security Cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for all family members; copy of last year's tax return, if available; bank account and routing number to direct deposit your refund; valid photo ID.

Why should I file? To get EITC!

If you worked this year, you can reduce how much federal taxes you owe or get a bigger refund if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). 

To learn more about the Earned Income Tax Credit read:

Am I Eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit?

IRS EITC Home Page

Helpful Organizations
The following organizations may be able to help you with

For a list of organizations in your area that may be able to help you, enter your zip code.

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