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Volunteer Virginia Kalil helps a client with her tax return at the Larry Jackson Library. | Cindy Glover, LkldNow
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5-minute read
Every year, millions of low- and moderate-income households miss out on tax credits and deductions potentially worth thousands of dollars, by not filing a tax return or doing it incorrectly. It’s unclaimed money that could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives — helping them to pay bills, make needed home or car repairs, get out of debt or establish emergency savings funds.
Free tax prep: To help close the gap between what people are eligible for and what they claim, two nonprofit organizations have partnered with the IRS to help people do their taxes.
United Way of Central Florida is offering free in-person tax preparation to anyone earning $66,000 or less. In addition, people at any income level can use the organization’s MyFree Taxes software at no charge and get support from an IRS-certified volunteer by email, chat or phone.
AARP Foundation is offering free in-person tax preparation to anyone who is 60 or older or disabled. In addition, anyone of any age or income level can use its Tax-Aide software for free and get help from an IRS-certified volunteer counselor through screen sharing.
Most common unclaimed benefits: The most common unclaimed benefits are earned income tax credits, child tax credits, the American Opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit, according to an IRS study.
The IRS estimates that during the 2022 tax year, 470,000 taxpayers missed out on a total of $864 million from the earned income tax credit and 110,000 taxpayers missed out on $133 million from the child tax credit. Unclaimed education credits totaled roughly $6.3 billion for 6 million taxpayers.
The volunteers: Six volunteer tax preparers were stationed along the perimeter of the meeting room at the Larry Jackson Library on Monday, the first day that the IRS began accepting 2024 tax returns. The volunteers included a retiree who worked for the IRS for 30 years and a certified public accountant with 30 years of experience.
The flow of visitors was relatively light, but Bobby Ramkarran, associate director of the Mulberry Community Service Center, said they helped 10 taxpayers — eight of whom will get refunds and two who owed money to the IRS. The highest refund on Monday was $5,325.
Ramkarran said he expects to have a line out the door next week, and it will get busier and busier as Tax Day nears. Most sites have bilingual volunteers to help Spanish-speaking clients. Six preparers can typically help 22 to 25 people in a four-hour session. “Anything above that, we have to cut it off,” he said.
Saving on preparation fees: The volunteers said there are some returns they cannot do. People with very large uninsured hurricane losses, significant rental property income or Bitcoin investments should use a paid tax service.
But otherwise, they said their service is every bit as thorough and accurate as that offered by big-name companies that charge $300 or more. Every return is done twice — first by the IRS-certified volunteer and then again by a senior reviewer. By 6 p.m., Ramkarran said nine of the returns had been accepted by the IRS.
Advice for taxpayers: Virginia Kalil, who was volunteering for the sixth year, is the chief audit executive for the University of South Florida by day. Her advice to taxpayers was:
Bring your actual Social Security card and the cards of any dependents. “We can’t use pictures,” she said. “A lot of people end up having to drive home and come back.” Other documents to bring are listed here.
File a return even if you aren’t required to. People earning less than the standard deduction might not have to file a return. But if any income tax was withheld from your paycheck, you can get it back, and you might qualify for refundable credits. In addition, scammers sometimes steal Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns, but they can’t do that if you have already submitted your return. She added that non-filers miss out on things like the COVID relief stipends, which were sent out based on tax rolls.
Other things to know: The IRS extended the personal income tax deadline from April 15 to May 1 for people in areas affected by hurricanes last year, including all Polk County residents. Anyone who suffered storm-related losses that were not covered by insurance or other reimbursements can claim those.
Free tax prep is available at the Larry Jackson Library on Mondays from 3 – 6:30 p.m. The library closes at 7 p.m.
Who: Taxpayers earning $66,000 or less When: Jan. 27 to April 11 Where: Five sites in Lakeland and more throughout Polk County. See the full list here.
The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center 650 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland Wednesdays: 12:30–4:30 p.m. (Closed March 19) Full tax preparation. Appointment required. Call (863) 648-1500, ext 294.
Larry Jackson Library 1700 North Florida Ave., Lakeland Mondays: 3–6:30 p.m. Full tax preparation. Walk-in site. Call (863) 425-1523, ext. 103 for more information.
The Salvation Army 2455 Jim Galloway Road, Lakeland Monday–Friday: 9 a.m –4 p.m. Assisted self-preparation. Appointment required. Call (863) 853-2214.
Crystal Lake Elementary School 700 Galvin Dr., Lakeland One-day “Tax-a-thon” on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Walk-in site. Call (863) 425-1523, ext. 103 for more information.
Kelly Recreation Center Complex 404 Imperial Blvd., Lakeland One-day “Tax-a-thon” on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Walk-in site. Call (863) 425-1523 for more information.
Who: Taxpayers age 60 or older When: Feb. 4 to April 15 Where: There are two sites in Lakeland and more throughout Polk County. See the full map here.
Faith Lutheran Church 211 Easton Drive, Lakeland Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Full tax preparation. Appointment required. Call (863) 272-9486
Reformation Lutheran Church 460 Old Polk City Road, Lakeland Mondays and Thursdays: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Full tax preparation. Appointment required. Call (863) 606-3165
NOTE: This article has been updated to clarify that anyone at any income level can use AARP’s Tax-Aide software.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Cindy's reporting for LkldNow focuses on Lakeland city government. Previously, she was a crime reporter, City Hall reporter and chief political writer for newspapers including the Albuquerque Journal and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She spent a year as a community engagement coordinator for the City of Lakeland before joining LkldNow in 2023. Reach her at cindy@lkldnow.com or 561-212-3429.
Is there any help now for folks that need to file back year taxes? I had Marketplace 2022-2025 but no income and I do not know what forms I need to file. Thank you!
Is there any help now for folks that need to file back year taxes? I had Marketplace 2022-2025 but no income and I do not know what forms I need to file. Thank you!
Hi, Joanna. We’re not tax experts. I recommend clicking the link for the IRS VITA program. See what they say. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers