Financial and tax counseling
After military service, it can be more important than ever to be smart about money.
You can find free financial counseling to help you deal with a number of money-related challenges.
Financial counseling
Several organizations offer financial planning resources:
- The nonprofit organization American Consumer Credit Counseling offers a Veterans and Military Personnel Online Financial Education Center with free information and tools to help you.
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Money Smart, a training program available through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, is designed to help families enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships.
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Money Matters, from the Federal Trade Commission, offers practical tips and basic advice for a variety of financial topics, including avoiding scams, managing your money, dealing with debt, using credit cards, and more
- Find resources for financial information and support at the National Resource Directory.
Tax counseling
Find out if you qualify for the following free assistance for preparing or filing your income tax returns.
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Free File provides free online tax preparation and e-filing services for taxpayers earning less than an adjusted gross income of $66,000 in 2018. Free File helps taxpayers claim all the deductions and credits for which they qualify. Free File is a partnership between the IRS and electronic tax software companies.
- The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax preparation help to people who cannot prepare their own tax returns, and whose income was generally less than $54,000 in 2018. For the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-906-9887.
- The IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program (TCE) provides free tax counseling and basic income tax return preparation to people age 60 and older. The AARP also offers a TCE program at many locations; contact 1-888-227-7669 for further information.