Tax Assistance Program

The Utah Tax Assistance Program (TAP) enlists the help of volunteer professionals to offer free, confidential tax preparation and financial consulting services to low-income clients. Our goal is for these clients to bring home tax refunds and utilize a vast array of financial tools to improve their quality of life. AAA Fair Credit Foundation is a full-service financial entity that promotes financial independence and stability for low-income families. TAP enables our clients to avoid commercial preparers and costly refund anticipation loans (RALs), which disproportionately affect low-income families.

Want To Volunteer With This Program? Click Here to Register

What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) sometimes called the Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.

To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.

The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.

What is the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program and how did it get started?
In 1969 the IRS recognized the need for assisting the general public in preparing individual income tax returns. Free tax help has been available to taxpayers in one form or another since then. Free tax help consists of community volunteers, who are trained and tested in basic tax law and prepare individual tax returns at no cost. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Salt Lake County are sponsored in partnership with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions that are committed to providing low-income households the opportunity to better their lives.

Who is eligible to receive help from the program and what kind of help can you expect to receive?
We can help people - especially those who cannot afford paid tax assistance, such as low-income households; seniors; the disabled and people with English as a second language - prepare and electronically file their federal and state income tax returns.

Will you qualify for EITC this year?
Find out if you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by answering some questions and providing basic income information using the EITC Assistant. Available in English and Spanish.

Bi-lingual Spanish-speaking assistance and ASL is available at some sites. IRS trained volunteers will discuss and determine eligibility for important federal tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Both credits can reduce federal income taxes and may result in refunds.

Where can you go to get help or to find more information?
Utah Residents: For more information or to schedule an appointment at a site nearest you, contact the 2-1-1 Information and Referral Hotline by simply dialing 2-1-1, or the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

What do you need to take with you when you meet with a program representative? People should bring photo identification for themselves (and their spouses); Social Security Cards or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) Cards for each person listed on the tax return; all wage and earnings statements (Forms W-2); interest and dividend statements (Forms 1099 or 1098); a copy of last year's tax return and any other information concerning income and expenses for the previous year. If filing jointly, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. Most tax help sites offer free electronic filing. Electronic filing provides the highest degree of speed, accuracy and security in filing tax returns.

Get Involved
Working with the Tax Assistance Program is fun, easy, and rewarding. You do not need to be an accountant or have finance background to participate. For those not interested in serving as a tax preparer, there are also non tax-oriented volunteer positions, including client greeter/screener roles, site assistants, site leaders, translators, and IT managers. In one volunteer hour, you can help return $1,300 to a hardworking family. On one Saturday of volunteering, you can return $5,200 to your community.