Is Get Your Refund Legit? How the Program Works
Learn if Get Your Refund is a legitimate service, its official backing, who qualifies for free tax preparation, and how to use it.
Get Your Refund is a service designed to provide free tax preparation assistance to eligible individuals. It aims to simplify the often-complex process of filing tax returns, particularly for those with lower incomes or specific circumstances. This service helps taxpayers navigate federal and state tax requirements and claim applicable credits and deductions.
Understanding Get Your Refund’s Official Status
Get Your Refund operates as a legitimate and secure service with official backing from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It functions as an online platform that connects taxpayers with the IRS’s established Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. These programs have been in operation for decades, offering free basic tax preparation to qualified individuals across the country.
The service is non-profit and relies on IRS-certified volunteers who undergo rigorous training to meet or exceed IRS standards for tax law knowledge and ethical conduct. These volunteers also receive training on maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. Before any return is filed, it undergoes a quality review check by a second IRS-certified preparer, ensuring accuracy. Get Your Refund collaborates with Code for America and other non-profit organizations to facilitate virtual assistance, making tax help more accessible.
Who Get Your Refund Serves
Get Your Refund is primarily intended for individuals and families who meet specific income guidelines, typically those earning $67,000 or less annually. This service also extends to persons with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English proficiency. While the exact income thresholds can vary slightly by location and year, the general aim is to assist low-to-moderate income taxpayers.
The program is equipped to handle various types of tax returns, including simple returns involving wages (Form W-2), interest and dividend income (Form 1099-INT, 1099-DIV), unemployment benefits, and certain retirement distributions. It also helps taxpayers claim important credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). However, the service generally has limitations and typically does not prepare complex returns involving extensive business income, certain rental incomes, foreign income, or other highly specialized tax situations.
The Get Your Refund Process
Before initiating the Get Your Refund process, taxpayers need to gather specific documents and information. This includes a valid photo identification for themselves and their spouse, if filing jointly, along with Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for all family members listed on the return. All income statements, such as Forms W-2 from employers, Forms 1099 for various types of income (e.g., 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC), and any other relevant financial documents, are necessary. Additionally, taxpayers should have statements related to health insurance coverage (Forms 1095-A, B, or C), records for any deductions or credits they plan to claim, and their prior year’s tax return if available. Bank account and routing numbers are also needed for direct deposit of any refund.
Once these documents are prepared, the procedural steps begin with submitting the gathered information through the Get Your Refund online portal. Users typically create an account, answer intake questions, and securely upload their identification and tax documents. An IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer will then be assigned to the account, reviewing the submitted information and preparing the tax return. Communication with the volunteer often occurs virtually, through secure messaging, virtual interviews, or email, to clarify any details.
The taxpayer then reviews the prepared return and provides an electronic signature, authorizing the submission. Finally, the volunteer submits the return to the IRS, and taxpayers can typically track their refund status through the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund” tool.