• Some people require help with their taxes.tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
  
  Tax time can be overwhelming for people that are unprepared or not all together very knowledgeable on the subject. It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by filing deadlines, fees, deductions and ever-changing tax laws. Luckily, there are resources available for people that have questions and need IRS tax help.
  
  

Does the IRS Offer Tax Help?

• Yes, the IRS does offer free tax assistance for consumers in the United States. Many physical IRS office locations offer tax help to answer tax questions or technical questions about tax returns and the forms required for them on a walk-in basis. You can check your local phone book or look online to find a local IRS office near you to get basic tax assistance from the IRS.
  
  

What is VITA?

• VITA is a program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, which offers volunteers trained by the IRS a chance to provide free help with taxes in community locations. They work to help individuals with basic tax preparation. This program specifically aims to work with individuals that cannot afford paid tax help, as well as individuals that do not speak English, people that are disabled, people who come from low-income households and elderly individuals.
  
  

What is TCE?

• TCE stands for Tax Counseling for the Elderly, and this is a program designed to provide people aged 60 and older with free tax return preparation and free tax help. This program is designed especially to help elderly individuals who cannot easily leave home to get the tax help that they need. This program is administered by the Internal Revenue Service and non-profit organizations across the country. IRS-trained volunteer workers provide tax return preparation and basic tax help for any senior citizen over the age of 60. Volunteers in this program may also travel to the homes of taxpayers that are unable to travel to a TCE site in their area.
  
  

What is Tax Trails?

• Tax Trails is a service offered on the IRS website for individuals seeking out tax preparation assistance. It offers a wealth of information through a clickable web interface. Individuals using the system will answer questions with "Yes" or "No" to reach the appropriate answers to their questions. In many cases, the answers that individuals seek can be found through this online interface, allowing them to complete their tax preparation without having to pay for assistance through other tax preparers.