Free Tax Help In Maryland

Are you looking for free tax help near you? There are free tax preparation organizations available to help individuals in Maryland prepare their taxes. Income guidelines may apply.

You can find local agencies by calling 211 or searching for free tax assistance in our 211 Maryland resource database. These services are provided by community groups, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Local help may also be available through the CASH Campaign of Maryland or the Comptroller of Maryland for state taxes only.

Make sure you rely on trusted sources for free tax assistance, as there are scams during tax season.

CASH Campaign of Maryland

The CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign of Maryland provides free tax preparation services for individuals or households who made $64,000 or less in 2023.

Call 410-234-8008, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., to make an appointment with CASH. You can also schedule an appointment online for one of the Baltimore City or County offices.

If you live outside Baltimore City or County, you can use a CASH Campaign Tax Partner. Find a location near you.

MyFreeTaxes

You can also find free tax assistance through MyFreeTaxes, which is provided by the United Way in partnership with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. You can choose if you want to prepare your return by yourself or with assistance.

There are income guidelines for having your taxes prepared for you. That program is for filers who make less than $60,000.  You can have your return filed in-person or online and it takes 2-3 weeks.

If you don't meet those income requirements, you can still use the MyFreeTaxes software to prepare your own return.

IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program

You can also find a location near you that provides tax help volunteers through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Enter your ZIP code and find tax help near you.

 

An elderly couple looking at a calculator

AARP Free Tax Prep For Seniors

AARP offers free tax preparation for seniors who have low-to-moderate income. If you’re over age 50, you can schedule an in-person or virtual tax preparation appointment with a Tax-Aide volunteer. There are more than 150 AARP Tax-Aide locations within 50 miles of Baltimore.

If you'd like to prepare your taxes on your own, you can use OnLine Taxes to file a free federal and state return if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is between $16,000 and $79,000 or you're an active duty member of the military with an AGI of $79,000 or less.

If you don't know your AGI, look at line 11 of last year's tax return.

Even if you choose to prepare your own taxes, you can get help from a volunteer counselor by sharing your screen with them.

You can also find a free local tax service for seniors by calling 211 or searching the database.

 

Preparing Taxes Yourself: IRS Free File

If you want to prepare your taxes on your own, the IRS Free File program links you to partner sites for free federal tax filing. Most sites are free if you meet income requirements, but some may charge a small fee for state filing, depending on your income.

IRS Free File is available for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less in 2022.

Learn more about the IRS’s Free File program.

Military and Veteran Taxes

If you're a member of the military or a veteran, you may qualify for free tax filing through MilTax software, provided through the Department of Defense and Military OneSource. You can access the tax preparation software through your Military OneSource account. You can file a federal return and up to three state returns for free.

In-person help is also available through VITA.

Maryland Taxes

Before you file your Maryland tax return, you have to complete your federal return.

If you used the IRS Free File program for your federal return, you should also be able to file a state return. However, fees may be associated with filing the Maryland state tax return through these third-party programs.

There are free tax filing options through the state of Maryland.

Free Maryland Tax Filing

The Comptroller of Maryland offers local tax help for Maryland tax forms.

For help filing the Maryland Income Tax forms, local offices are located in Baltimore, Cumberland, Annapolis, Elkton, Frederick, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Salisbury, Towson, Waldorf and Wheaton. Schedule an appointment at one of these offices for free Maryland income tax assistance. You can get help filing an individual Maryland tax return, get an answer to a question or get help with another type of Maryland tax.

You can also call Taxpayer Services at 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland or 1-800-MD-TAXES.

Where is my Maryland State Refund?

Are you looking for your Maryland tax refund? You can check the refund status through the Comptroller of Maryland. You'll need your Social Security Number and the exact refund amount shown on your tax return.

Paper returns can take 30 days to process. If you filed electronically through a professional tax preparer, you can also check with them if you haven't received your refund.

Tax Preparation Documents

If you schedule an appointment with an accountant or a free tax preparation service, you’ll need certain financial and personal identification documents. Check with your tax preparer for specifics, but in general, bring the following documents to your appointment:

  • Social Security card and/or ITN for every family member. Prior-year tax returns can’t be used for verification.
  • Photo ID for each filer
  • W-2 for all jobs
  • Child care provider name, address, and tax ID number or Social Security number
  • All banking information to direct deposit the refund, if applicable (a voided check or deposit slip will work)
  • Last year’s tax return
  • Documents related to any money you received from the IRS or state
  • 1099 forms, if applicable
  • Any other tax-related documents
  • Form 1095-A, B and/or C if you bought insurance through the Marketplace, Medicare/Medicaid, or your employer
  • Marketplace Exemption Certificate, if applicable

Contact the organization with specific questions.

If you need help finding help preparing your taxes, call 211.

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