It’s that time of the year again when as a responsible taxpayer, you must declare your income and account for all expenses. But the sheer complexity of filing taxes and understanding complaisance’s for state or federal requirements can be a daunting experience. This is where professional tax help is necessary to file a smooth, hassle- and error-free return. Several organizations offer free and paid tax assistance. Here are a few ways to get your taxes done right!

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The federal government offers this free tax benefit as a part of their financial assistance programs to people with an annual income equivalent or less than $54,000. The Internal Revenue Service employs certified volunteers who can prepare a basic tax return for eligible taxpayers. These professionals also offer their assistance in an electronic filing to ensure proper compliance. VITA services can be availed by senior citizens, people who do not speak fluent English, have some form of disability, and/or fall in the category of moderate to low income. If you pass the eligibility criteria, the next step is to locate the nearest VITA facilitation center. Volunteers usually operate out of community centers, libraries, schools, and even shopping malls during tax season.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Tax Help
AARP is one of the leading foundations in the country that supports the population above the age of 50. Services range from providing membership benefits for auto, insurance, healthcare, and financial assistance to lobbying for a cause that benefits the elderly community. AARP members can also avail of tax help for compiling and filing annual returns through their foundation Tax-Aide program. This service is provided free of cost to seniors above the age of 50 earning low to moderate income. AARP also joins forces with IRS certified volunteers to provide services using self-filing software sponsored by TurboTax and OnLine Taxes. These services are not for profit, and depending on the annual income status, seniors can qualify for either of the e-filing services.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
The Internal Revenue Service features another inhouse tax prep, filing, and assistance service for the elderly above the age of 60. The tax assistance is valid for the return filing period between January 1st and April 15th each year. Seniors can get in touch with the volunteers to receive updates regarding filing status and have all queries resolved on call. This assistance is provided from convenient locations for senior taxpayers. The IRS approves special grants for corporate entities and provides funds that pay for such volunteer services. Qualified expenses incurred for filing an income tax return on behalf of a senior citizen are reimbursed using these funds. Taxpayers can also visit the official IRS website to locate the nearest VITA, TCE, or AARP Tax-Aide facility using their in-house locator tools.

Paid Tax Help
U.S. taxpayers who do not qualify for free tax programs can use paid tax prep software to file their returns. Here are the top premium downloads.

• H&R Block
  H&R Block provides a range of in-person, drop-in, and virtual tax prep services for a premium. The service costs range between $49.99 and $109.99, depending on the type of assistance. Note that state and federal costs for filing tax returns are paid separately. Statistics indicate one in seven tax returns for the previous financial year were filed using H&R Block’s premium filing plans.
• TurboTax by Intuit
  TurboTax employs professional financial consultants and qualified CPAs to prep and file tax returns. All aspects of filing can be done online and on-call, right from filling the return forms to processing payments for state and federal taxes. TurboTax charges a reasonable fee in the range of $60 to $120 per return (excluding fees and state costs). Note that the service pricing will vary depending on the type of return filed by individual taxpayers and corporate entities.
• TaxSlayer
  TaxSlayer ranks among one of the more affordable premium income tax return filing services. With a service cost set in the range of $24.95 and $54.95, taxpayers can avail a range of professional tools and filing services for state and federal taxes. This does not include additional costs for any special considerations or filing requirements. There is also a free version of the software, but it comes with a few limitations.