The Department of Human Services is pleased to announce its annual partnership with the AARP/VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program offering free tax prep for residents. The tax assistance program assists seniors and low to moderate-income households with virtual or on-site personalized counseling by appointment at Town Hall or Westport’s Center for Senior Activities.

On-site counseling is available from January 23, 2023 to April 17, 2023 by appointment only.  

Town Hall Appointment Hours:

• Mondays between 1-7pm

Center for Senior Activities Appointment Hours:

• Wednesdays between 9am- 4pm

• Thursdays between 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling 860-590-8910.  The virtual option can be accessed via https://simplifyct.org .

This free Tax Assistance Program is the nation’s largest, free volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service and is available to all individual filers regardless of income or age.  During the last full (pre-Covid) tax season, some 65,000 IRS-certified volunteers provided this service at more than 9,000 sites across the nation, resulting in some three and a half million taxpayer returns being prepared and filed.  In Connecticut about 52,000 federal returns were processed, in addition to an equal number of State returns and many amended filings from prior years.  

The “SimplyCT” counselor group that services the Town of Westport prepared and filed more than 7,000 returns last season – almost all electronically.  Federal refunds totaling over $10 million were received by these clients, including some $3 million from tax credits such as for education and earned income.

Before starting either the on-site or virtual filings taxpayers must have the following types of information available:

Identity Documentation

• Government Issued Photo ID.

• Social Security or ITIN numbers for all taxpayers and dependents.

• Bank account/routing numbers (blank check preferable), if expecting a refund.
   

All 2022 income report forms received

• SSA1099 if you were paid Social Security benefits. 

• W-2(s) from your employer(s).

• W-2G from gambling winnings.

• 1099G from unemployment compensation payments. 

• 1099s: Bank interest, stock dividends, retirement distributions, broker statements.

Other Important Documents

• If itemizing deductions, receipts for expenses such as taxes paid (real estate, vehicle) and charitable contributions; and verification of the original purchase price of sold assets (home, stocks).

• Form 1095-A if health insurance was from the Access Health Connecticut Marketplace.

And preferably, for Reference, A Copy of last year’s (TY 2021) Return 

Many of the same IRS-Certified volunteers who have been serving the Town of Westport’s sties for years will be available to prepare taxpayer returns; Westport Human Services and the Center for Senior Activities are pleased to again partner with these IRS-certified preparers to offer this valuable service to the community.