PSA: those free community tax help events might be hiding something

I went to a free tax prep thing at the library last Saturday and the volunteer told me my return would be smaller if I claimed the earned income credit. I checked the IRS website later and found out they were using a software that doesn't let you claim certain credits at all. Has anyone else run into this at these community help events?

2 comments

2 Comments

benk2626d ago

and of course the "volunteers" are probably just using the same low tier tax software that hides all the credits so the IRS looks like the bad guy. lmao gotta love it when people "helping" you actually just make sure you get less money back. i bet that software they use is the free version from one of those big tax companies that lobbies to keep the tax code complex on purpose. classic bait and switch - come for the free help, leave with a smaller refund and no idea you got played. honestly i'd rather just do my own taxes with the IRS free file portal at this point, at least then i know what i'm missing.

wesley_thompson26d ago

Wait, they were actually using software that blocks the earned income credit? That's some shady garbage right there, I can't believe a volunteer program would be pushing people towards a smaller refund like that. I'd be raising hell with whoever runs that event, because that sounds like they're either clueless or actively screwing people over.