News  2023 Boston Tax Help Coalition Pilot Program for Visually Impaired People (VIPs)

The Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) provides free, high quality tax preparation for individuals earning $60,000 or less. The Coalition is committed to providing fully inclusive tax preparation services to taxpayers who are disabled. In 2023, BTHC will pilot a tax preparation program for people who are blind and visually impaired, providing necessary accommodations to assist them with filing their 2022 federal and state income taxes. 

The Visually Impaired People (VIP) pilot tax program will take place at the Roxbury Center for Working Families, 7 Palmer Street, 2nd floor, Roxbury, on Wednesdays through March 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Taxpayers must bring the following documents in order to get their taxes prepared:

1. Non-expired photo ID 
2. Social Security card or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter for taxpayer, spouse and/or dependent(s) 
3. Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Certificate of Blindness
4. A copy of your 2022 tax return
5. All 1099 forms: 1099-G (unemployment), 1099-R (pension payments), 1099-INT (bank interest), 1099-SSA (Social Security) or self-employment 
6. W2 forms from all jobs in 2022 (if filing past years, forms from all jobs that year) 
7. Bank account and routing numbers to direct deposit your tax refund into your account
8. Proof of health insurance (health insurance cards, HC-1099 and 1095-A) and 1095-B if applicable for taxpayer, spouse and/or dependent(s). Taxpayers who have received or expect to receive health insurance credits need to bring proof of ALL household income.
9. If you received the premium tax credit, you must bring a 1095-A
10. Total childcare expenses in 2022, as well as childcare provider’s name, address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security number (SSN)      
11. All 1098-T forms (tuition payments), college statements, receipts for materials 
12. Total rent paid in 2022
13. Proof of ANY deductible out of pocket expenses (annual BWSC, charitable receipts, property taxes) 
14. Any mail from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and/or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
15. The IRS letter that says you received the Child Tax Credit (if you got this credit)

How To File Taxes

Taxpayers can expect the following process to get their taxes done:

1. Taxpayers call 617-918-5260 and speak to a staffer or leave a message to schedule an appointment.
2. Taxpayers will be welcomed and guided from the entrance at the Roxbury Center to the second-floor offices via an elevator. 
3.  The process will include:
   1. Intake/IRS Documents
   2. Financial Check-Up
   3. Tax Preparation
   4. Signature and Filing 

Sight Tax Assistants will guide taxpayers through the tax preparation process, help answer questions and provide advocacy.