Almost a third of Americans have already filed their income taxes this year. There is free help available for those who have yet to get started.
Taxpayers who make less than $49,000 per a year can get a tax return prepared for free from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, known as VITA. The program is a partnership between the Atlanta Prosperity Campaign and the Internal Revenue Service. The Prosperity Campaign is an iniative of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. VITA operates at various locations across metro Atlanta. Click here to find a location near you.
H and R Block, Jackson Hewitt and Liberty also have free tax centers set up in select Walmart Stores. They'll file a Federal 10-40 EZ form for free. Most state returns are about $30.
The American Association of Retired Persons also has free Tax Help Centers across metro Atlanta. Senior Citizens and low income residents are given first priority but the centers are open to all. Click here to find a location.
Also, beware of emails that are disguised to look like correspondence from the IRS. They may look official, but under close scrutiny contain spelling and grammatical errors and contain links that could lead to a computer virus or malware.