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Tax Assistance for Single Mothers

If you are a single mother in need of assistance in preparing tax returns and other tax-related processes, check out the various programs and organizations, and methods listed below that can help you avoid doing your taxes on your own for a free or minimal fee, or how to get credits on your taxes.

Tax Assistance Programs


Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

  • What is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance?

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a resourceful national program funded by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to offer free tax help to eligible individuals such as single mothers in need of aid in formulating tax returns and other tax processes. The IRS certified volunteers provide free simple income tax return preps with automated filing to eligible individuals.

  • Requirements to become eligible for the VITA program

To qualify for the program, you must:

  • Be a low or moderate-income earner.
  • Be disabled, or a senior citizen, or not able to speak the English language well.

How to apply for the Program?

There is no need for an application to make use of the program. Call 800-906-9887 for more inquiries.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TACs)

  • What is the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TACs)?

The Taxpayer Assistance Center, under the initiative of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), helps individuals and families with nearly every tax issue from the convenience of a home or office. If you need from any of the local Taxpayer Assistance Center closest to you, call their office to schedule an appointment with them.

  • Requirements to receive assistance from any of their centers

To obtain their services, you will be asked to provide:

  • An authentic photo ID
  • A Taxpayer ID number such as a Social Security Number.

How to find the Taxpayer Assistance Center closest to me?

You can find the Taxpayer Assistance Center closest to you by inserting your area’s 5-digit ZIP Code into the Office Locator provided here.

Head of Household and Dependent Exemptions

  • How to qualify for the Head of Household status as a single mother?

To qualify for the Head of Household status as a single mother, you must be paying for more than half of the cost of maintaining a household that is the primary place of residence for your qualified child or children.

  • Benefits of a Single Mother filing as a Head of Household

A single mother who files as head of households in tax returns gets to be able to claim an exemption for themselves and each of their eligible children. With this exemption, you get to have part of your income earnings not owed to taxes. Take note that only one single parent, e.g., you, can claim each child as a dependent for tax purposes.

  • Can I file taxes if I didn’t work but have a child?
     You can still file tax returns as a parent who has a child who is still dependent despite your employment or working status, or the amount of income you earn as long as it is correct and ample. Although, you must fulfill all the IRS requirements before you can claim your child as a dependent.

Child Tax Credit

  • How does the Child Tax Credit work?

The Child Tax Credit is a specific amount of money, as a credit, subtracted from the total amount of taxes you owe, and this can lead to considerable savings. An additional Child Tax Credit can also be received if the amount of Child Tax Credit is more than the amount in debt to tax.

  • How can I participate in the Child Tax Credit?
    To participate in the Child Tax Credit, the eligible child must first satisfy specific IRS requirements, including being under the age of 17 by the end of the year.
  • How much Child Tax Credit am I eligible to get?

You are entitled to a tax credit of about $1,000 for each child under the age of 17 claimed as a dependent.

Earned Income Tax Credit

What is the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The Earned Income Tax Credit was specially established to help working families who are earning low or moderate-income. Also, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) gives a refund to eligible families or single parents who do not make enough money to owe taxes. Although, the IRS can withhold the refund for some period if you claim the EITC upon your tax return.

Child Care Credit

  • Requirements to partake in the Child Care Credit

Before you can become eligible for the Child Care Credit, you must:

  • Have a child or children under the age of 13.
  • Be working or attending school.
  • Have your child expenses at $3000 for one child and $600 for two or more children.
  • How much can I get from the Child Care Credit?

The credit can be as much as about $1,050 for one child and $2,100 for two children.

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