California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert Wednesday urging residents to see if they are eligible for free or low-cost tax filing options amid tax season.
Eligible taxpayers can file their 2024 federal and state taxes for free through the IRS Direct File and CalFile programs.
“For many families, tax season brings an opportunity to get a catch up on bills, build some financial breathing room for emergencies, or finally take the car in for repairs,” Bonta said in a release.
“To keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets, I encourage Californians to file early and find out if they qualify for free tax help,” he added.
The two programs may allow consumers to get tax refunds and claim tax benefits like California’s Earned Income Tax Credit and Young Child Tax Credit.
After completing a federal return with IRS Direct File, eligible California taxpayers are provided a link to CalFile to complete their state tax return for free.
Local San Diego tax filing assistance programs are also available for those who qualify.
San Diegans who have a tax return below $82,000 per year qualify to file for free online using United Way’s MyFreeTaxes.
Residents of San Diego County who makes less than $67,000 per year can use 2-1-1 to file for free, whether in-person or online.
Other resources for tax preparation include the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax help to people who make $64,000 or less annually, persons with disabilities, and people who need English assistance.
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those over 60, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues.
VITA and TCE sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools and shopping malls.
Tax preparation assistance is available at a number of San Diego public libraries.
VITA and TCE tax help locations can be found here.
