Tax Services

Let us help you move from falling behind to getting ahead.

Take a look at the services we offer.

• Free tax prep
• Got a letter from the IRS? Get help.
• Amending your return
• Individual Taxpayer Identification Services (ITINs)
• More tax site services

Get Your Taxes Done for Free

The Center has free tax sites in over 30 communities throughout Illinois. Each year, we help more than 30,000 people file their taxes and get all the tax credits they’ve earned and refunds they’re owed. Our free tax sites are more than a place to get your taxes done. At most sites, you’ll be able to open a bank account and learn ways to save and better manage your money.  

Who do we help?

We provide free tax help to:

• Families with income less than $45,000
• Individuals with income less than $20,000

Where are our tax sites?

From January thru April 2009, we will have free tax sites in more than 30 Illinois communities. Click here to find the nearest tax site.

What should you bring with you to our tax site?

To get our free tax services, you MUST bring with you to the site:

• All W-2s and 1099s (if any) for the year involved
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for all family members.
• Copy of previous year’s tax return, if possible
• Bank account number and routing number if you choose to direct deposit your tax refund
• Valid photo ID for all family members.

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Got a letter from the IRS?

Don’t panic! We know that having a dispute or problem with the IRS can be expensive and confusing if you don’t have the right help. We run a tax clinic that can assist you with solving your IRS issues quickly. 

Who We Help

Through our clinic, we provide free legal assistance if:

• You meet certain income requirements. Click here to see if you qualify. 
• Your case has $50,000 or less in dispute.

For more information on whether we can take your case or not, please call (312) 630-0282.

Get Started

1. If you meet the requirements, please call and make an appointment with our tax clinic at (312) 630-0255.

2. Come to your appointment and bring tax returns from any years that you think there may be a problem with as well as any letters the IRS has sent you.

Haven’t filed your taxes in a long time? Bring your income documents like W-2s and 1099s and we may be able to help you file your taxes too.

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Amending Your Tax Return

Did you discover that you didn’t list all of your W-2s or 1099s on your tax return? Or did you forget to claim all of your tax credits?

If you filed your tax return and realized that something needs to be added, updated or corrected, you will need to file an amended return by using the IRS form 1040X. However:

• If it’s BEFORE April 15, you should go back to the place where you had your taxes done and have the business or organization complete an amended return for you.
 
• If it’s AFTER April 15, please call our tax hotline at (312) 630-0273. We may be able to help.

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ITINs

Even if you don’t have a valid Social Security Number (SSN), you can file taxes safely by getting an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a number that IRS gives to individuals who can’t get a Social Security Number but need to file a tax return.

• An ITIN may look like a Social Security Number, but don’t be fooled! It’s not the same. An ITIN doesn’t let you work legally in the U.S. It lets you file taxes and can help you open a bank account.
• Applying for an ITIN will NOT get you deported. The government agency that handles taxes and ITINs does not share information with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services except in the rarest of cases.
• By filing your tax return using an ITIN, you may be able to get a tax refund. Be sure to keep those old tax records you filed with your ITIN. They will be important to have when you file for citizenship.

How to Get an ITIN

You can get an ITIN through the Center for Economic Progress. During tax season, we hold special events where we help people apply for ITINs, prepare their tax returns and answer questions. 

To apply for an ITIN, you must bring the following documents:

• Two forms of identification: 
  1. You must show that you were born in another country (examples: a passport, birth certificate, etc.); and 
  2. An identification that shows your photo (example: a matricula consular). If you don’t have a picture ID, visit your country’s consulate. Officials there can help you obtain one. 
• All the employment information, pay stubs and any other forms that show how much your employer paid you last year. 

If you can’t attend one of the Center’s ITIN events, click here, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on your state to find other places that can help you get an ITIN.

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More tax site services

At our tax sites, we do more than just taxes! From banks to financial coaches to savings bonds, we make sure that you've got the chance to get the information or products you need to start saving today.

Here's what we're offering this year:

• Bank accounts - Open a checking or savings account to deposit your refund quickly and safely.
• Prepaid debit cards - Deposit your refund onto the card, save on fees
• Savings bond - $50 minimum purchase, earns interest for 30 years and can be bought for others.
• Financial Aid for Education (FAFSA) - Apply for free money to pay for college.

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