U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) encouraged Granite Staters to file their taxes in a timely manner and shared the following resources as the 2023 tax season begins on Monday, January 23, 2023. The following resources are provided through the IRS and help Granite Staters file their taxes at little or no cost, as well as take advantage of available tax credits to save money.

The deadline to file taxes will be April 18, 2023, unless an extension is requested.

Free tax filing services:

IRS Free File

Taxpayers who made $73,000 or less in 2022 can file their federal taxes for free using the IRS’s Free File program. Taxpayers can access both free guided tax preparation services (for those whose income totaled $73,000 or less) and free file fillable tax forms (for those who made more than $73,000). Access IRS Free File here.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program

The VITA program offers free tax assistance for people who need help preparing their own tax returns. Those eligible include people who generally make $60,000 or less, people with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English language proficiency. More information is available here, and you can find a VITA site near you here.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)

The TCE program offers free tax help for those who are 60 years or older. This service specializes in providing information around pensions and retirement-related issues. More information is available here, and you can find a TCE site near you (operated by AARP) here.

Tax credits you may be eligible for:

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The EITC is a refundable credit that can help low- and moderate-income workers and families. This credit is generally available for taxpayers who have earned less than $59,187 and whose invested income was less than $10,300 in the tax year 2022. You must have earned income to qualify for this credit; unearned income, such as unemployment income, is not considered eligible for this credit. The IRS will hold a special session on January 27th to provide information and to encourage taxpayers to ensure they understand the important benefits of this credit. Check if you qualify here.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC)

The CTC is a tax credit available for single or married workers earning low or moderate incomes who have dependent children under the age of 17. Qualifying individuals who file a federal tax return can receive a credit of up to $2,000 per child. Check if you qualify here.

Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)

An IRA is a personal savings arrangement that allows you to set aside money for retirement. You may be able to deduct some or all of your contributions to a traditional IRA, or eligible for a tax credit equal to the percentage of your contribution. More information is available here.

Education Credit

Tax credits, deductions and savings plans may help taxpayers afford higher education expenses. An education credit reduces the amount of tax owed on tax returns. If the credit reduces your tax liability to less than zero, you may get a refund. The two types of education credits available are the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. More information is available here.

Helpful reminders:

Ahead of filing taxes, you may need to have the following documents and information on hand:

Social Security Number (SSN)

Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)

Adoption Taxpayer Identification Numbers

Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers (IP PIN) valid for calendar year 2023

Routing and account numbers to receive your refund by direct deposit

Forms regarding source of income (for example, a W-2 for employment income)

Documents regarding deductions, if applicable

To get your refunds as quickly and easily as possible, file electronically and choose direct deposit.

Beware of scams. The IRS will never contact taxpayers by email, text message or social media channels to request personal or financial information. The IRS will also never demand immediate payment without first offering taxpayers the chance to appeal or question the amount owed.

If you have questions, check out the IRS’s online tools and frequently asked questions for assistance.

Shaheen continues to work to simplify the tax system and save costs for taxpayers. She helped introduce the Tax Filing Simplification Act, which would simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans, saving them hours and hundreds of dollars. Along with lowering costs and eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, simplified filing tools would ensure that more eligible people – including millions of low-income Americans – receive important tax refunds, like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. She has also led calls for accountability around predatory practices at TurboTax, on the heels of claims from New Hampshire constituents who filed their taxes through TurboTax and had their refunds erroneously deposited into new accounts at Green Dot Bank without their permission, resulting in undue delays and hardship, with many having still not received their full refunds.

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