There are estimates that Americans spend over $100 billion each year completing their taxes. The average amount spent on preparation of a return in 2014 is $273. However, you don’t have to be one of these people shelling out hundreds of dollars to prepare your taxes.

Here at JVS, we are a VITA tax site that provides free, high-quality tax preparation to households that have income of $54,000 or less. JVS is part of the Boston Tax Help Coalition. Our tax site will ensure you get all the earned income tax credit (EITC), child tax credits and other premium tax credits that you qualify for. The tax site is a free service offered through JVS Center for Economic Opportunity, which JVS launched in 2015.

Some Additional Details

  1. The hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. Our first full day of operations will be Tuesday, Jan. 23; the last will be Thursday, April 12.
  2. It is recommended that clients make an appointment but we also take walk-ins. To make an appointment, call 617-399-3235 or go online here.
  3. We have PDF fliers in English, Chinese, Haitian and Spanish on our website.
  4. All volunteers are certified by the IRS to prepare taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you use this service?

You can keep more money in your pocket by avoiding tax preparer fees, and we ensure that you will receive all tax credits available from the earned income tax credit to the child tax credit and many others.

Can I use this service if I live outside of Boston?

Yes! Any resident of Massachusetts is able to use this service.

When should clients make an appointment?

Only when you have all your materials, including W2s, 1099s and health care documents.

I saw a tax preparation service that said they will give us money right away (often called a refund anticipation loan). Should I use this service?

Services that offer immediate cash often come with hidden fees and/or high interest rates for forwarding the money to you. Most tax preparation services, including those at JVS, now offer the use of direct deposit, which usually means an individual will receive their refund within two weeks.

How much can I save by using the JVS Tax Site versus a paid preparer?

Paid preparers can charge anywhere from $100 to $500. At JVS, there is no cost!

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