Free tax preparation help for Camden, NJ residents and men returning from incarceration across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. No paid preparers. No guesswork.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." — 1 Peter 5:7
Every resource below is free or low-cost. Most require income eligibility — but if you're returning home with little income, you likely qualify. Start here before paying anyone.
IRS-trained volunteers prepare your taxes for free. You get the same (or better) outcome as a paid preparer — at no cost. Sites open January–April each year.
✅ Income limit: $67,000/year for most sites
📋 What to bring: Photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members, all W-2s/1099s, any 1098-T or 1098 forms, last year's tax return if available, bank routing numbers for direct deposit
Volunteers who specialize in retirement income, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Available year-round at many sites. Free — no income limit.
✅ Age requirement: 60 years or older
📋 Handles: Retirement income, SSA-1099, RRB-1099, all standard filing situations
If you don't have a Social Security Number, you need an ITIN to file taxes legally. IRS-certified preparers at VITA sites can help you obtain one — at no cost.
⚠️ Critical: You cannot work legally without a SSN, but you CAN file taxes with an ITIN on income earned under a ITIN-based W-4.
📋 Required: Completed W-7 application, passport or other government ID, proof of residency
NJ residents earning under $84,000 can file state taxes for free through the NJ Division of Taxation's Online Filing program. Also: NJ Earned Income Tax Credit (NJ EITC) — a refundable credit worth up to $2,500 for working families.
✅ NJ EITC: up to 40% of the federal EITC — if you qualify for federal, check NJ too
📋 NJ Property Tax Credit: homeowners and renters who pay rent may qualify
PA residents earning under $84,000 can use the PA Department of Revenue's free online filing. Also available: the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) — a refundable rebate for homeowners and renters aged 65+, or widowed, or permanently disabled, regardless of income.
✅ PTRR income limits: up to $35,000/year for homeowners; $15,000/year for renters (50% rebate above that until cutoffs)
📋 Apply through PA Dept. of Revenue — forms available by mail and online
Community Action Agencies offer tax prep assistance as part of their anti-poverty mission. Many have VITA affiliates on-site. In Camden County and throughout South Jersey, CAAs are a trusted local resource.
📍 NJ — Camden County: Camden County CAA — call your county social services for referral
📍 PA: County Assistance Offices (CAOs) connect you to free tax help
If you have internet access, you can file federal taxes completely free. No income requirement — these are open to everyone.
✅ IRS Free File: irs.gov/freefile — brand-name software (TurboTax Free, TaxAct, etc.) at no cost. Income limit $84,000.
✅ FreeTaxUSA: free federal filing always free. State: $15. Trusted by millions.
✅ Cash App Taxes: 100% free — federal and state, no ads, no upsells.
Plain-language guides written by Deacon Benny, grounded in Scripture and real reentry experience. Each guide addresses a specific tax situation common to men coming home.
Coming home doesn't mean you have tax baggage. Most returning citizens have either a clean slate or a small refund waiting. Here's what to expect:
Taxes are calculated on income you earn, not on your criminal record. Your tax situation is based on your wages, not your past. If you worked while incarcerated (in many states you can earn income), you may have had taxes withheld. If you didn't work, you have no tax obligation.
You do not owe taxes on time served. Incarceration is not taxable income. However, if you had income withheld and didn't file in previous years, that money may be sitting with the IRS — and you may be owed a refund.
If you haven't filed taxes in 3+ years and you had income, the IRS may hold your refund. VITA sites can help you file back returns. You have 3 years from the filing deadline to claim a refund — after that, the refund expires.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is an IRS tax processing number. It does not grant work authorization or legal status. But if you earned income in the U.S., the IRS still needs a way to process your taxes — and an ITIN is that way.
An ITIN is strictly for tax filing purposes. It does NOT give you the right to work, drive, or receive benefits. If you're working without authorization, that is a separate legal matter. This guide covers tax compliance only.
Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania recognize ITIN-based filings at the state level. Use your ITIN on your state tax return exactly as you use it on your federal return.
A 1099-C is sent when a creditor forgives (cancels) a debt you owed. In reentry contexts, this commonly comes from medical bills, credit card debt, or payday loans that were discharged while you were incarcerated — and it is one of the most confusing tax forms you may encounter.
Canceled debt is generally taxable income under IRS rules. The creditor is required to send you a 1099-C if they cancel $600 or more. That means the canceled amount shows up as income on your tax return — and you may owe tax on it.
If you receive a 1099-C in the mail, DO NOT IGNORE IT. File it with your return — even if you're working with a VITA preparer. The IRS matches 1099-Cs to Social Security numbers. If you don't report it, the IRS may audit you later.
Store every piece of mail you receive from creditors — including 1099-Cs — in a safe place. Bring them to your VITA appointment. Let a certified preparer help you determine whether the canceled debt is taxable in your specific situation.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the largest tax credits available to working Americans. For returning citizens who are getting jobs for the first time, it can mean a significant refund — sometimes several thousand dollars above what was withheld from your paycheck.
A refundable tax credit — meaning if it's larger than the tax you owe, you get the difference back as a refund. For 2025, the credit is worth up to:
If you are returning home partway through the year, you may qualify for the full EITC based on your income for the entire year — even if you only worked the last half. The EITC is calculated on your annual income, not just the months you worked.
Because the EITC is refundable, many returning citizens who earned minimum wage all year receive a large refund — often $3,000–$7,000 — even if little was withheld from their paychecks. This can be a critical financial bridge for your first months home.
Even if you're only working part-time or seasonal work — file your taxes and claim the EITC. Use a VITA site. Don't leave this money on the table.
If you are waiting on a replacement Social Security card or your SSN application is in process, you can still file taxes — but the process requires extra steps. Here's what to do while you wait.
Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Ask about the status of your replacement card or SSN application. Processing times vary from days to several weeks.
If you are a non-citizen who never had an SSN, or your SSN was revoked due to immigration status, you cannot file without an ITIN. See the ITIN guide above for application steps. The IRS will not process a return without one of these two numbers.
If your SSN application is in process, hold all your W-2s and income documents in a safe place. Once your SSN arrives, you can file your return for that tax year. You have 3 years from the filing deadline to claim a refund.
As soon as you receive your SSN card, bring it to a VITA site along with all your income documents for the year. File as soon as possible — don't wait until the April deadline.
If you worked under someone else's SSN (identity fraud — which is a crime), you need to correct this with the IRS. A VITA preparer can help you navigate this situation, which may involve filing as a mixed-aggregator or making other adjustments. Do not ignore this — it affects your tax records going forward.
New Jersey offers its own tax credits on top of federal ones. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you almost certainly qualify for the NJ EITC. Here's what you need to know.
New Jersey matches a percentage of your federal EITC as a state credit. For tax year 2024–2025, that percentage is approximately 40% of the federal credit. So if your federal EITC is $5,000, your NJ EITC is approximately $2,000.
If you pay for childcare so you can work, NJ offers a credit worth up to $2,625 per child under age 6 and $1,260 per child ages 6–13. Income limits apply. VITA sites can help you determine eligibility and claim the credit.
If you pay rent or own a home and pay property taxes, you may qualify for a NJ property tax credit. This is claimed on Form NJ-1040. The amount depends on your income, rent paid, and property taxes — VITA can calculate it for you.
A common mistake is filing the federal return and stopping there. NJ and PA both have credits that are only claimed on the state return. File both — it's free through VITA and takes only a few extra minutes.
Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program is one of the most valuable state programs available to low-income Pennsylvanians. It is not income-dependent in the way you might expect — if you're 65+, widowed, or permanently disabled, you may qualify regardless of total income.
This is one of the most underclaimed programs in Pennsylvania. Even if you only paid $800 in property taxes, you may qualify for a rebate. It's worth 20 minutes to apply. The state sends out rebate checks — it is real money.
If you owe the IRS money, you are not alone — millions of Americans owe. The good news: the IRS has structured programs to help you manage and resolve tax debt without punitive enforcement. Here's what you need to know.
The worst thing you can do is ignore a tax bill. The IRS charges penalties and interest on unpaid balances, and those penalties compound quickly. If you can't pay in full, file your return anyway. Filing stops most penalties immediately, even if you can't pay.
You can set up a monthly payment plan directly with the IRS. As of 2024:
Apply online at irs.gov/paymentplan or call 1-800-829-1040. You can also request one through a VITA preparer.
If your income is below a basic living threshold, you can request CNC status — the IRS agrees to pause collection efforts temporarily. You still owe the debt, but they won't garnish wages or seize assets until your financial situation changes.
You can settle your tax debt for less than you owe — but the IRS only accepts offers when the amount offered equals or exceeds what they believe they can collect. This is complex and requires financial disclosure. Most people don't qualify. A VITA preparer won't handle this — you'll need a tax attorney or enrolled agent.
The IRS Fresh Start Initiative (2011) made installment agreements more accessible and expanded CNC eligibility. If you have unfiled returns from prior years, filing them as part of a Fresh Start request can sometimes reduce your overall balance. Act now — unfiled returns lead to automatic collection action.
Don't face the IRS alone. Call the IRS customer service line or visit a VITA site with your notice. Get a clear picture of what you owe before making any payment decision. A payment plan is almost always better than doing nothing.
Reentry-specific tax questions, answered in plain language.
If your income was below the filing threshold, you may not be required to file — but you should file anyway. If you had any withholding from a job (even one month of work), you are likely owed a refund. For 2024, the filing threshold for a single person under 65 is $15,600. If you earned less than that, you can file voluntarily and likely receive money back.
Yes — your tax filing covers the entire calendar year (January–December), not just the time since your release. Any income you earned while incarcerated (work programs, prison jobs) is included. Your W-2 from the facility will show your total wages for the year.
Contact the HR or payroll department of the employer and request a duplicate. If that employer no longer exists, you can request a wage transcript from the IRS at irs.gov by calling 1-800-829-1040 or using the "Get Transcript" tool online. It takes 5–10 business days to arrive by mail. Your VITA preparer can use the wage transcript to prepare your return.
No. Filing taxes has no impact on parole or probation status. In fact, demonstrating legal tax compliance can be viewed positively by parole officers as evidence of responsible citizenship. A W-2 and filed tax returns show you're engaging with the legal economy — that is a good thing.
You need some form of government-issued photo ID to verify your identity at a VITA site. If you don't have a state ID yet, contact your county motor vehicle agency to get a replacement or first-time ID — this is usually required for employment anyway. In the meantime, a passport or military ID also works. If you have nothing, ask your reentry coordinator or case manager for help obtaining identification — it's one of the first steps they should be helping you with.
Yes — when you file, you can provide a routing and account number for any bank account or prepaid card that has a direct deposit capability. Avoid refund anticipation checks (RACs) — these are expensive loans disguised as tax products. Use a VITA site and opt for direct deposit into your own bank account or a reloadable prepaid card you control.
No. VITA sites are 100% free. There is no fee, no donation expected, no income test at the door. The volunteers are trained and IRS-certified. If anyone at a VITA site asks you for money, leave and report it. You should never pay for tax preparation help through VITA.
The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return — faster if you choose direct deposit. If you claim the EITC or Child Tax Credit, the IRS holds those refunds until mid-February as a fraud prevention measure. State refunds typically arrive within 2–4 weeks.