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Online Tax Resource Center
It's that time of year again - time to file your taxes. Chris understands that filing your taxes can be a confusing process. So he has created this Online Tax Resource Center to assist families in preparing their returns and in achieving all deductions, credits, and refunds that are owed to them.
Information on the Economic Stimulus Package
Chris recently joined an overwhelming majority in Congress to approve an economic stimulus package that is intended to help middle class working families who are being hurt the most by our struggling economy. Congress and President Bush worked quickly to put together this compromise package that will provide a tax rebate for the vast majority of Connecticut families.
Learn about how this law will help you
Free Tax Preparation Services
If your 2007 adjusted gross income was $54,000 or less, you can use Free File to prepare and file your Federal Income Tax Return online.
In addition, the IRS offers programs to qualified individuals who need assistance preparing their tax returns - the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program.
The VITA Program provides free tax help to low and moderate income (typically, $40,000 and below) people who are unable to prepare their tax returns on their own. IRS trained volunteers are available to help prepare basic tax returns in locations throughout the state. A complete list of VITA sites in Connecticut can be found here.
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free one-on-one counseling and tax preparation services to people age 60 and older. Volunteers, trained by the IRS, are frequently retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.
To find TCE sites in Connecticut, click here and insert your zip code.
Here is what you need to bring to the VITA/TCE Sites to have your tax returns prepared
For your Connecticut Income Tax Returns, the Department of Revenue Services offers a Taxpayer Service Center to file and pay your state obligations.
The Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit for people who work but have low incomes. In Tax Year 2006, over 22 million taxpayers received nearly $44 billion dollars in EITC. Families earning less than $40,000 may be eligible for as much as $4,700 this year. However, the IRS estimates that more than 20 percent of people who qualify for the credit do not claim it.
The IRS has made it easy to determine whether you are eligible for the EITC. The EITC Assistant prompts you to answer a few simple questions after which you can find out whether you qualify and the amount of your EITC
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
Last December, Chris voted in favor of the bipartisan Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007 that will save 23 million Americans, including more than 72,000 in Connecticut’s Fifth District, from being hit with the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) this year, which is causing an undue tax burden on middle class families.
This tax, created in 1969, was originally intended to ensure that wealthier Americans were not avoiding paying their share of income tax. Instead, it is catching more and more working families in an unfair tax liability - this year, the number of Fifth District families falling into this tax category was about to jump 424% from 2005.
If you suspect you may have to file with the AMT, click here to learn more about it.
Tracking Your Refund
If you have already filed a tax return and are expecting a refund, you can check on the status online.
Regardless of whether you requested the IRS to send you a check or to deposit your refund in one or multiple accounts, you can monitor your refund through the IRS secure Web site.
Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization inside the IRS. The purpose of the service is to assist taxpayers who are facing economic harm or who have tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels. For instance, if you are suffering from an immediate financial hardship, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help expedite your refund.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service also may be able to assist you if you have an issue that remains unresolved after 30 days or if you have not received a response by the date promised. The service is free and confidential; it is available for businesses and individuals.
Call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778, TTY/TTD 1-800-829-4059 to see if you are eligible for assistance.
Federal Resources
Free File - if your 2007 adjusted gross income was $54,000 or less, you can use Free File to prepare and file your Federal Income Tax Return online.
E-File - file your taxes online
Frequently Asked Tax Questions and Answers
State Resources
State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
Useful IRS Phone Numbers
Telephone Assistance for Individuals: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040
Telephone Assistance for Businesses: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-4933
Telephone Assistance for people with hearing impairments: Toll-Free 1-800-829-4059 (TDD)
EITC Information: Toll Free 1-800-352-3792
Order tax forms: Toll Free 1-800-829-3676