Hurry – it’s not too late to claim certain tax credits on your 2021 federal income tax return. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) wants to educate individuals about claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, or the Earned Income Tax Credit. You may be eligible to receive the full amount of these credits, even if you have little or no income, or are not usually required to file a federal income tax return.

The fastest and most secure way to receive your refund is to chose and having any refund direct deposit. The deadline to use the IRS’s Free File tools closed on November 17, 2022, but you can still submit your tax return using a paid tax preparer, or submitting your tax return to the IRS by mail.

Here are some other tips to help you prepare to file your 2021 federal income tax return:

What you need to gather to file

• SSNs or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers for yourself and anyone else listed on your tax return.

• Wage and income information (collect any W-2s or 1099s you have received). You can order copies of wage and income statements online after creating an Online Account.
  • Bank account and routing number for direct deposit of a refund.

How to find tax return preparation help

• FAQs Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
• Choosing a Tax Professional
• Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications

More information

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) are also available to assist low-income individuals who have a tax dispute with the IRS. LITCs also provide education and outreach to individuals who speak English as a second language.

TAS Resources

• Get Help: Filing Returns
• Get Help: Credits
• Get Help: Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Get Help: Consequences of Not Filing
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinics
  

IRS Resources

• IRS Free File Options
• Find Forms & Instructions: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions
• Get Your Refund Status: https://www.irs.gov/refunds
• Your Online Account: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

Visit TAS’s Get Help center for a list of tax topics to assist you with resolving many tax-related issues.

For more updates from TAS, visit the news and information center to read the latest tax tips, blogs, alerts, and more.