Tax help is provided by VITA and TCE volunteer assistors, who have received training that was developed and sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. The volunteers will help you in the preparation of your Form 1040 with itemized deductions, as well as your Arkansas state income tax return. Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., maintains current lists of VITA and TCE sites.
VITA and TCE
The acronym VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. VITA volunteers provide free tax assistance with basic income tax returns at various community locations statewide to those who are unable to afford professional tax return preparation. VITA volunteers particularly assist those with lower incomes, older persons, people with disabilities, and non-English speaking people. The acronym TCE stands for Tax Counseling for the Elderly. AARP Tax-Aide is a charitable non-profit program administered by the AARP Foundation, which sponsors the Arkansas TCE sites. The purpose of AARP Tax-Aide is to provide free confidential tax return preparation service and answer tax questions for low to middle income tax payers with special attention to those 60 and older. Both VITA and TCE volunteers have received the same tax training. TCE volunteers have received additional training in tax issues of interest to those ages 55 and over.
Filing Electronically:
Bring These When Visiting VITA or TCE
• a picture ID (or 2 other pieces of identification)
• Social Security Card(s) for you, your spouse, and dependents
• birthdates for all persons on the tax return
• copies of all W-2’s, Form 1099’s, etc
• a copy of a check for direct deposit (VITA needs the routing transit number and account number located at bottom left of check)
• your spouse, if filing joint
• a copy of your last year’s federal and state tax returns (if available)
• Forms 1095 (relating to health insurance)
