Terrebonne Parish Library Blog: January 2019

*UPDATE: VITA has not received the necessary equipment from the IRS to begin taxes, due to delays caused by the government shutdown. Please call the day prior to your planned visit to confirm the VITA representatives will be available to assist you.

It's officially that time of year! Check to see if you are eligible for this fantastic free service from VITA.

Free tax filing assistance through VITA:

VITA is the only organization that Terrebonne Parish Library is partnering with this year for free tax preparation services. Assistance is available if you earned less than $60,000 overall.

Volunteers for VITA will be at the Main Library (no other branches) on Tuesdays from February 6 - April 9. While volunteers will be doing taxes from 9 AM - 3 PM, a wait list will be started at 8:30 AM by a VITA volunteer. Only the VITA volunteer’s list will be used; no “unofficial” lists will be recognized. You are advised to come at 8:30 AM and remain in line, as sign ups/assistance are first come, first served, and VITA has fewer volunteers working this year. Information from VITA regarding their services is posted below.

Tax Forms:

The library has received federal tax forms from the IRS (Louisiana does not send out state tax forms to libraries). All branches have received free 2018 tax forms.

The IRS has updated its tax forms for last year, and sent out the following email to tax form distribution partners last year:

Changes to Forms 1040 and 1040 A, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, and Form 1040 EZ, Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers with No Dependents

Following the most expansive tax law changes in 30 years, the IRS created a shorter, simpler Form 1040 for the 2019 tax season. The new Form 1040 will replace the current Form 1040 as well as the Form 1040A and the Form 1040EZ.

The new Form 1040 uses a "building block" approach, in which the tax return is reduced to a simple form. That form can be supplemented with additional schedules if needed. Taxpayers with straightforward tax situations would only need to file this new 1040 with no additional schedules.

We will distribute the Form 1040 and Schedules 1-6 as Package 1040. The Package 1040 will include one copy of the new Form 1040 along with one copy of the schedules. The Instructions for Form 1040 will be a separate product.

Package 1040 Contents

• Form 1040 — U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

• Schedule 1 — Additional Income & Adjustments to Income

• Schedule 2 — Tax (Additional Taxes)

• Schedule 3 — Non-Refundable Credits

• Schedule 4 — Other Taxes

• Schedule 5 — Other Payments and Refundable Credits

• Schedule 6 — Foreign Address and Third-Party Designee

The following forms will be available at the Terrebonne Parish Libraries, in limited numbers, while supplies last:

Form 1040
Package 1040

Requesting Forms and E-filing

Printing Forms Online:

You can print federal and state tax forms at home for free, or at the library for 10 cents per page.

Federal: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions

State: http://www.rev.state.la.us/Forms

Requesting Forms by Phone and Online:

You may request to have forms mailed to your home for free.

Federal: Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time to order current or prior year forms and instructions or IRS publications. Hours of service in Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific Time. You will receive your order by mail, usually within 7 to 10 days

State: 1-855-307-3893

State, online request to have booklet mailed: https://esweb.revenue.louisiana.gov/OnlineBookletRequest/RequestBooklet.aspx

E-Filing

You may file your own federal taxes free online at https://www.irs.gov/uac/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

For Louisiana, see http://revenue.louisiana.gov/EServices/LouisianaFileOnline

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Bayou Book Challenge

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

2019 Tax Information