Greetings,
We want to provide underserved and multilingual taxpayers vital information. Many are missing significant credits when they file their tax returns, or when they do not file a return and could. They must file a 2021 tax return even if they don't have a filing requirement, to receive these valuable refundable credits. And even if they received advance child tax credit payments in 2021, they still need to file a tax return to get the remainder of the child tax credit. Only half was given in advance.
We hope you will share this information that many families are failing to take advantage of valuable benefits, because they do not know they exist. Many are leaving a great deal of money on the table. For example:
• For 2021 only, more single workers and couples claiming no children can qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). That's because the maximum credit is nearly tripled ($1,502, up from $538), and is, for the first time, available to both younger workers (now age 19, it was 24) and senior citizens (ages 65 & above). In the past, the credit for those claiming no children was only available to people ages 25 to 64.
These and other benefits are going unclaimed.
There is assistance available in preparing tax returns. Volunteers prepare tax returns at no cost through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.
These programs offer free tax return preparation to low income individuals.
- IRS.gov provides tax information as well as many free products and services in English as well as in 6 other languages:
Spanish Chinese Korean Russian Vietnamese Haitian Creole
We have images & tweets in these 6 languages, with key messages.
Subscribe to IRS News in English or Spanish, for tax tips and updates.
- IRS2Go our mobile app available in both English and Spanish for Android and iOS mobile devices.
- We have informational short YouTube channels in Spanish and American Sign Language to which taxpayers can subscribe.
- If there is a need to have an interpreter when working with the IRS, we do offer a translation service.
- OPI is an interpreter service that brings a language interpreter into a telephone conversation between an IRS employee and a taxpayer, on a 3-way call.
- The interpreter translates for both the IRS employee and the non-English taxpayer (in the taxpayer's language).
- OPI Service is FREE and available 24hours/7days a week.
- IRS has access to more than 350 languages through this service.
- IRS has developed a new “Languages” webpage on IRS.gov that has basic tax information in 21 languages.
- The new Schedule LEP was designed so taxpayers can state a preference to receive written communications from the IRS in another language. Schedule LEP must be filed with a tax return (either hardcopy or e-filed). Once processed, the IRS will be able to determine the taxpayer's translation needs and will provide translations when available.
So, as you can see there are many services IRS offers to help multilingual and underserved people get the information and benefits, they need. Please share this information on your social media platforms.
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