Free tax preparation services
Free tax preparation sites will open throughout the state of Minnesota for individuals who are age 60 or older and for lower income clients and individuals who have a disability. These free tax preparation services are trustworthy, professionally competent and confidential. They process the complex, non-conforming MN income tax forms and property tax and rental refunds. Many possible tax credits are available only if taxes are properly filed.
Below are ways to gain answers to your questions and access free tax preparation services.
- To find a site near you on the MN Department of Revenue, press Ctrl key and click on Free tax preparation sites web page.
- File for free yourself using the United Way's MyFreeTaxes services for households earning $66,000 or less.
- Prepare + Prosper offers free tax preparation by appointment.
For additional information on free tax preparation press Ctrl key and click on https://extension.umn.edu/taxes/free-tax-preparation by Rosemary K. Heins, Extension educator emeritus in family resiliency. Reviewed in 2020 by Mary Jo Katras, Extension educator in family resiliency.
The following resource will help you find free tax preparation sites and get guidance on making tax refund decisions, press Ctrl key and click on Taxes | UMN Extension.
The following phone numbers may not connect to a person but will refer you to online services.
Taxpayer Advocate Service, 1-877-777-4778
Taxpayer Assistance Centers, 1-844-545-5640
IRS Toll-free line, 1-800-829-1040
Order IRS Forms and Publications, 1-800-829-3676
Economic Impact Payment questions, 1-800-919-9835. Learn how to receive your maximum non- taxable payments, but unemployment and added $600 are taxable.
Some of these tax services are limited in the scope of issues they will process. Check to make sure your situation will be processed. Examples of commonly out of scope issues include: Self-employed SEP, SIMPLE and qualified plans; Profit or Loss From Farming; General Business Depreciation and Amortization. (A cash business may be processed); Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, Airplanes; Mortgage Assistance Payments; Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Due to Undue Hardship; and Additional Medicare Tax.
In scope are several offsets to income (called “above the line adjustments”) including, on the federal return, a $300 charitable cash donation offset to income when taking the now higher Standard Deduction. On the MN return only ½ of cash donations in excess of $500 can offset income.
—Andy Whitman, chair, Financial & Legal Issues Group.
News
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details:
Beginning January 1, 2027, the University of Minnesota is making updates to medical plans, the pharmacy vendor, and the Wellbeing Program incentive that apply to retirees and dependents enrolled in these plans.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 167 years. And on September 3, 2026, UMRA made its Minnesota State Fair debut to talk with fairgoers (on Seniors Day) about retirement and to promote opportunities to volunteer through our University Retirees Volunteer Center.
Like all of us, UMRA member Barbara Heinemann has been reflecting on 9/11 and life in the 25 years since then, with mixed feelings.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2027 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five University of Minnesota campuses are eligible to apply. We invited Brad Hokanson, professor emeritus, UMN Department of Design Innovation, to tell us about the work supported by his 2026 grant to promote teaching creativity in high schools.
Meet UMRA member and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Louis. She devoted her career as an Extension educator — “bringing the University to the people” — to developing and providing programming for adults and youth.
The UMRA membership year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2027, it’s definitely time to do so!
UMRA has a Facebook group that is open to UMN retirees and others with close ties to the University, for posting messages about anything University- or retiree-related. Learn more.
UMRA hosted delegates from 14 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten for the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association conference in July. It was described as “the perfect collaboration” by two delegates we invited to share a few of their key takeaways from the conference.
Developing communication skills is the focus of two programs needing volunteers this fall: the “Reader/Writer Program,” assisting students in Minneapolis Public Schools grades 7-12 to develop literacy skills; and “Partners in English,” engaging in conversation with adults for whom English is not their first language.
After being unexpectedly sidelined at the outset of her retirement, Pam Snopl now enjoys doing many of the things retirees get to do, including reconnecting in person with family and friends, going to museums and weekday Minnesota Twins games, reading, and writing.
UMRA member George Swan retired in 2021 after 30+ years at University Libraries, but still returns to campus to visit one or another of the libraries at least twice a week in his current role as a student/retiree.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is an annual competition for grants to support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarly or creative interests.
UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership for the coming year. Thank you if you’ve already renewed! If you haven’t, please renew right away.