By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — It's time to start getting your paperwork together for your 2019 tax return."Especially
 if you go see a tax professional, they don't really want you to come in
 before you have all your documents, because then you'll have to come 
back," IRS spokesperson Michael Devine said. "They can't do it 
accurately. If you're doing it yourself using tax software, one of the 
things the IRS recommends is using Free File. Go to IRS.gov, click on 
the link to Free File."You can file for free if your AGI was 
$69,000 or less and you were between the ages of 17 and 51 or you were 
active-duty military or you qualify for the Earned Income Credit. There 
are also simpler forms for older taxpayers, regardless of income."If
 you're a senior citizen, born before January 2, 1955, there's a new 
form that you can use, the 1040SR," Devine said. "It's designed 
specifically for senior citizens. It's much simpler than the 1040. You 
put your information in and you're done. It's really simple. If you 
don't want to worry about tax forms and all the tax changes, use E-file.
 Let the tax software do the work."Even if English isn't your first language, you can still get help with your taxes, for free."There
 are ten companies that partnered with us this year," Devine said. "Two 
of them are offering help in Spanish. If English isn't your first 
language, doing it in Spanish might be a big help. You pick the company 
you want. Go to irs.gov. Click on the link to Free File and then there's
 actually a tool. It will help you figure out which one of the companies
 is the best fit for you."Filing early can also help protect you 
against identity theft, because the IRS will accept the first return 
from your Social Security number, but kick back any subsequent returns. 
The IRS begins accepting returns next week.

IRS spokesman: Start getting paperwork together for taxes