Category: Client Resources

The Return of the Three-Month Time Limit for Food Stamps

Posted on

Updated March, 5 2024

Ver información en Español 

What is the Three-Month Time Limit for Food Stamps? 

Starting July 1, 2023, if you are an adult under 53 (under 55 as of October 1, 2024) who does not live with children, you can only receive food stamps for three months unless you are working or meet an exception. These are known as the ABAWD rules (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents). These requirements may only apply to some people in your household. 

The ABAWD time limit was suspended through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act beginning on April 1, 2020. The three-month time limit returned to North Carolina on July 1st, 2023.  

Exceptions – You do NOT have a time limit if you are: 

  • Age 53 or older (55 or older as of October 1, 2024)
  • Under age 18
  • Living with children (even if not yours)
  • Pregnant
  • Foster children under age 25 (had to be in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday)
  • In school or taking classes at least part-time (special rules apply; exempted through work registration rules)
  • Veterans (includes all branches, reserve components and National Guard, regardless of discharge characterization)
  • Receiving a disability-based benefit (Social Security, SSI, VA pension, Workers Comp, private insurance)
  • Caring for a disabled person or child under 6 (does not need to live in same household; exempted through work registration rules)
  • Unfit for work at this time according to a doctor’s office
  • Unable to work 20 hours per week
  • Applying for or getting Unemployment Benefits (exempted through work registration rules)
  • If you are making over $217.50 per week, regardless of number of hours worked (exempted through work registration rules)
  • In a drug or alcohol treatment program or in need of that treatment
  • Homeless
  • Some other exceptions apply

How can I keep my food stamps if the time limit applies to me? 

  1. Work at least 20 hours/week, including at a job, your own business, or in exchange for goods or services 
  1. Do job training through DSS 20 hours/week 
  1. Volunteer 20 hours/week 
  1. Any combination of the above 

Call your local Department of Social Services (DSS) if you have questions about the time limit, you need help showing the limit does not apply to you, or to find volunteer work or training:

Mecklenburg County

Phone number: 704-336-3000

Wallace H. Kuralt Centre
301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center
430 Stitt Road, Charlotte, NC 28213

Community Resource Center
3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208

Union County

Phone number: 704-296-4300
2330 Concord Ave, Monroe, NC 28110

Cabarrus County

Phone number: 704-920-1400
1303 S Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC 28083

Contact one of the organizations below if your food stamps are stopped or denied, or if you would like to speak with a lawyer about your rights. FREE legal assistance is available:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Mecklenburg County
English: 704-376-1600
Spanish: 800-247-1931

Legal Aid of North Carolina

All other NC counties
866-219-5262

Pisgah Legal Services

Western NC
800-489-6144

Frequently Asked Questions 

What should you do if you believe one of the exceptions apply to you? 

Contact your local DSS. If your caseworker finds that one of these reasons apply to you, you will not need to follow these Time Limit Rules. Proof of an exception or meeting the work requirements may be required. If so, you have the right to request that DSS assist you in gathering proof.  

What if I have a good reason for missing work? 

If you have a “good cause” for working under 20 hours/week, DSS should not terminate your food stamps. Good causes for missing hours of work include: illness, transportation issues, or bad weather that shut down the workplace. DSS will ask for proof of the good cause. 

What if my Food Stamp benefits are reduced or end due to the time limit but should not have been?  

DSS is required to give you advanced written notice of a proposed reduction or termination of benefits of at least 10 business days before they take such action. The notice must state the reason for the action, the effective date of the action, and the name and contact information of the person to contact to request more information or to request a fair hearing to challenge the action. At recertification, your caseworker must review your eligibility for exceptions retroactively. 

You have the right to request a hearing if you do not agree with DSS’s decision. You can request a hearing by contacting your local DSS in person, by telephone, or in writing.  

What else should I know? 

You can get your benefits back if you start meeting the work requirements or an exception. You may also qualify for a second 3-month period of food stamps if you met the work rules in the past. Make sure you are providing DSS with the most current information regarding your employment or exceptions.  

What other food resources are available?  

  1. WIC: If you have a child under 5 and/or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more about WIC and complete a WIC referral online at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.  
  1. 211: Visit www.nc211.org or dial 211 to be connected to community food resources. 
  1. Food Pantries: You can find local food pantries by visiting https://www.foodpantries.org.
  1. NC Care 360: Request help or find resources by clicking the “For Individuals” tab on https://nccare360.org.  
  1. FindHelp: Find food and other resources at https://www.findhelp.org.

‘Unwinding’ could undermine Medicaid expansion in North Carolina

Posted on

By Jaymie Baxley

DHHS thinks 300,000 could lose coverage following the end of a federal mandate that protected enrollees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Medicaid expansion was signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Roy Cooper, it was widely heralded as a transformative event for uninsured people in North Carolina.

Amid the bipartisan celebration, there was little mention of the hundreds of thousands of existing enrollees who are expected to lose Medicaid coverage before expansion goes into effect. Few of the revelers acknowledged the less-than-ideal timing of the legislation, which passed just days before the expiration of a federal mandate that had prevented states from kicking Medicaid beneficiaries who became eligible for coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic off of the rolls.

Known as the continuous coverage requirement, the three-year-long mandate ended on April 1, the same week expansion became law. The so-called unwinding of this continuous coverage rule means the state must redetermine the eligibility of more than 2.9 million people who are currently receiving Medicaid. It’s an unprecedented undertaking that some health care advocates fear will trigger a wave of unwarranted terminations.

Before the pandemic, Medicaid recipients usually experienced an annual or semiannual review to verify that they continued to qualify for coverage. But many of the state’s more recent enrollees, who gained coverage during the public health emergency, have never gone through the process. Statewide enrollment grew 36 percent during the pandemic, with over 797,000 people newly qualifying for coverage from March 2020 until April of this year.

Read more at: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/

Las reglas en Medicaid cambiaron

Posted on

Con algunas excepciones, los beneficiarios de Medicaid no habían estado en riesgo de perder su cobertura desde marzo de 2020.  Sin embargo, a partir del 1 de abril de 2023, su Departamento de Servicios Sociales (DSS) local comenzará a verificar si aún es elegible para Medicaid.  Esto se conoce como redeterminación.

DSS comenzará a reducir o cancelar el servicio de Medicaid para aquellos que ya no son elegibles.  También podrían terminar la cobertura de quienes no devuelvan la información necesaria para determinar su elegibilidad.

Por esta razón, debe asegurarse de que DSS tenga su información de contacto actual (dirección, número de teléfono, etc.) y que responda de inmediato a las llamadas o mensajes que reciba sobre su Medicaid. Las redeterminaciones estarán vigentes hasta el 31 de mayo de 2024. DSS se comunicará con usted entre el 1 de abril de 2023 y el 31 de mayo de 2024 para determinar su elegibilidad.

¿Qué debo hacer?

  • Comuníquese con su oficina local de DSS para asegurarse de que tengan su dirección, número de teléfono, correo electrónico y otra información de contacto.
    • Local DSS Offices:
      • Condado de Mecklenburg
        • 704-336-3000
        • Wallace H. Kuralt Centre, 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
        • Centro de Recursos Comunitarios, Community Resource Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
      • Condado de Union
        • 704-296-4300
        • 2330 Concord Avenue Monroe, NC 28110
      • Condado de Cabarrus
        • 704-920-1400
        • 1303 S. Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083
  • Esté atento al correo electrónico, mensajes de texto o llamadas telefónicas que reciba del DSS y responda de inmediato.
  • Cree una cuenta ePass mejorada (https://epass.nc.gov):
    • Vea sus beneficios,
    • Cargue los documentos que respalden cualquier cambio, como ingresos o tamaño del hogar,
    • Actualice su información en línea.

Tiene derecho a:

¿Qué pasa si pierdo mi cobertura de Medicaid?

Tiene derecho a apelar

Si cree que ha habido un error, puede apelar esa decisión. Tiene 60 días (aproximadamente 2 meses) a partir de la fecha del aviso para solicitar una apelación. Si lo hace dentro de los siguientes 10 días hábiles, puede pedir que su Medicaid continúe mientras se revisa la apelación. Llame al 704-376-1600 y marque la opción 2 para obtener más información.

Los períodos especiales de inscripción (SEP por sus siglas en inglés) están disponibles para la cobertura de Medicare y del Mercado.

Personas que ya no son elegibles para Medicaid pueden ser elegibles para inscribirse en la cobertura de Medicare o del Mercado con un Período de Inscripción Especial.

Navegadores de Seguro Médico

Programa de Información de Seguro Médico para adultos mayores de Carolina del Norte (SHIIP por sus siglas en inglés)

  • Los consejeros de SHIIP ofrecen información gratuita e imparcial sobre los productos de atención médica y la elegibilidad de Medicare.
  • Llame a 1-855-408-1212

Asistencia legal gratuita disponible

Si cree que su Medicaid fue reducido o terminado injustamente, llame al 800-247-1931.

Para consultar más recursos que lo ayudarán en este proceso visite NCMedHelp.org.

Medicaid Rules Have Changed

Posted on

Ver información en Español 

With a few exceptions, Medicaid beneficiaries have not been at risk of losing coverage since March 2020.  On April 1, 2023, your local Department of Social Services (DSS) will begin checking to see if you are still eligible for Medicaid.  This is known as redetermination. 

DSS will start reducing or terminating Medicaid for those who are no longer eligible.  They will terminate coverage for those that do not return the information needed to determine their eligibility.

You must make sure DSS has your current contact information (address, phone number, etc.) and that you promptly respond to letters you receive about your Medicaid.  Redeterminations will continue on a rolling basis. You will be contacted by DSS between April 1, 2023-May 31, 2024 to determine your eligibility.

What should I do?

  • Contact your local DSS office to make sure they have your current mailing address, phone number, email, and other contact information.
    • Local DSS Offices:
      • Mecklenburg County
        • 704-336-3000
        • Wallace H. Kuralt Centre, 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
        • Community Resource Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
      • Union County
        • 704-296-4300
        • 2330 Concord Avenue Monroe, NC 28110
      • Cabarrus County
        • 704-920-1400
        • 1303 S. Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083
  • Watch for mail, texts, or phone calls from DSS and respond promptly. 
  • Create an enhanced E-Pass account (https://epass.nc.gov):
    • View your benefits,
    • Upload documents supporting any changes, like income or household size,
    • Update your information online

You have the right to:

What if I lose my Medicaid coverage?

You have the right to appeal.

If you believe there has been an error, you can appeal that decision. You have 60 days (about 2 months) from the date of the notice to ask for an appeal. If you do so within 10 business days, you can request that your Medicaid be continued while the appeal is reviewed. Call 704-376-1600 and press 2 for more information.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) are available for Medicare and Marketplace coverage. 

Individuals who are no longer eligible for Medicaid may be eligible to enroll in Medicare or Marketplace coverage with a special enrollment period.

Health Insurance Navigators

NC Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)

  • SHIIP counselors offer free and unbiased information regarding Medicare health care products and eligibility
  • 1-855-408-1212

Free legal assistance may be available.

If you think your Medicaid was wrongfully reduced or terminated, call 704-376-1600 and press 2.

For more helpful resources, visit NCMedHelp.org.

Healthcare.gov Premium Tax Credits and Filing Your 2022 Taxes

Posted on

If you currently do not have health insurance, we can help! Click here to learn more and make an appointment with a health insurance navigator today.

Health insurance on Healthcare.gov is affordable for many people because the government subsidizes your monthly premiums based on your income. These subsidies are called Premium Tax Credits. If you receive them each month during the year, they are called Advance Payments of the Premium Tax Credit (APTCs).  

If you receive these government subsidies, you need to reconcile these payments on your tax return each year. The IRS requires you to do this to make sure that you received the proper amount of subsidies based on your income. 

Use Form 8962 to see how much premium tax credit you qualify for based on your actual year-end income.  If your income at the end of the year is higher than you estimated on your Healthcare.gov application, you will need to pay back some of your subsidies. This is because you were given more subsidies than you were qualified for, based on your annual income.  

If your income at the end of the year is lower than you estimated on your Healthcare.gov application, you may be eligible for a refund.  Use form 8962 to claim the Premium Tax Credit. 

How do I know if I received APTCs?

If you enrolled yourself or a family member in a Healthcare.gov plan, you will receive Form 1095-A from the Health Insurance Marketplace. This form will show the months that you were covered by a Healthcare.gov plan and will show the amount of APTC that was paid to your health insurance company on your behalf. The Marketplace also provides this information to the IRS. 

Are there changes for filing taxes in 2022? What do I need to do? 

If you received excess APTCs in 2022, you will be required to pay these back when you file your tax return.  

If you find on Form 8962 that you received a smaller amount of subsidies than you qualify for based on your year-end income, you may claim the Premium Tax Credit on form 8962. 

The deadline to file your 2022 federal income tax return is April 18, 2023. If you do not reconcile your APTCs by filing your 1095-A on your 2022 tax return, you run the risk of not being eligible for APTCs in future years. 

Extra Food Stamps are Ending

Posted on

Obtenga más información en Español 

What are the Food Stamp Emergency Allotments? 

Since March 2020, households received an extra $95 or more in Food Stamp benefits per month. These temporary pandemic related increases were authorized by Congress to help meet food needs. Due to recent action by the federal government, these extra payments are ending. February will be the last month households will receive this extra payment.  

What should I do? 

Review your current Food Stamp Benefit amount:

You can check your FNS/emergency allotment balance and transaction history three ways:  

  • Visit website www.ebtedge.com. Click on Cardholder Login, create an account, and add your EBT card number. 
  • Download and use the EBT Edge mobile app (can be downloaded on Google Play or Apple Store).  
  • Contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 

Regular monthly FNS benefits are issued between the 3rd and 21st of every month. Emergency allotments are issued on or after the 22nd of the month. Starting in March, you will only receive this first payment.  

Compare your information:

If you are not already receiving the maximum monthly benefit for your household, you may be able to increase your benefits amount by updating your information.  

Household SizeMaximum Monthly Benefit
1$281
2$516
3$740
4$939
5$1,116
6$1,339
7$1,480
Each additional person+$211

Report changes that may help you increase your benefits:

  • INCOME: Did you lose work hours or have your pay cut?
  • SHELTER: Did your rent, mortgage, or property taxes increase?
  • DEPENDENT CARE: Are you paying more for child care or care of a disabled adult?
  • MEDICAL EXPENSES: Does anyone in your household who is 60 or older or has a disability have medical costs over $35/month? This includes the cost of medical services, medical supplies, health insurance premiums, copays, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and more.
  • CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS: Are you legally obligated to pay child support?
  • YOUR ADDRESS: This will not impact your benefit level, but you may miss important updates if DSS does not have your current address.

Contact your local DSS to report changes and/or find out if your expense qualifies as a deduction:

Contact your DSS caseworker (if you have one), go to the DSS office in person, or call their customer service number. You can also appeal if you believe your regular, monthly benefits were improperly calculated. 

Local DSS Offices:

  • Mecklenburg County
    • 704-336-3000
    • Wallace H. Kuralt Centre, 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • Community Resource Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
  • Union County
    • 704-296-4300
    • 2330 Concord Avenue Monroe, NC 28110
  • Cabarrus County
    • 704-920-1400
    • 1303 S. Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083

If something goes wrong, contact an advocate: 

If you have taken the above steps and still think something is wrong with your food stamps case, contact a legal advocate for assistance. 

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
(Mecklenburg County)
704-376-1600 | Linea de Español 800-247-1931

Legal Aid of North Carolina
(statewide except for counties served by Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and Pisgah Legal Services)
866-219-LANC (5262) | legalaidnc.org

Pisgah Legal Services
(Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, Qualla Boundary)
800-489-6144 | pisgahlegal.org

What other food resources are available?  

  • WIC: If you have a child under 5 and/or pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more about WIC and complete a WIC referral online at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.  
  • 211: Visit www.nc211.org or dial 211 to be connected to community food resources. 
  • NC Care 360: Request help or find resources by clicking the “For Individuals” tab on https://nccare360.org/  

Cupones de Alimentos Adicionales Terminan 

Posted on

¿Qué son las asignaciones de emergencia de cupones para alimentos?

Desde marzo 2020, hogares recibieron $95 o más en beneficios de cupones de alimentos (FNS por sus siglas en inglés) adicionales por mes. Estos aumentos temporales relacionados con la pandemia fueron autorizados por el Congreso para ayudar a satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias. Debido a la reciente acción del gobierno federal, estos pagos adicionales están terminando. Febrero será el último mes en que recibirán este pago adicional.    

¿Qué debo hacer? 

Revise la cantidad actual de sus Cupones de Alimentos:

Puede verificar su saldo de FNS /asignaciones de emergencia y el historial de transacciones de tres maneras:  

  • Visite el sitio web www.ebtedge.com. Haga clic en Inicio de sesión del titular de la tarjeta, cree una cuenta y agregue su número de tarjeta EBT.    
  • Descargue y use la aplicación móvil EBT Edge (se puede descargar en Google Play o Apple Store).  
  • Comuníquese con el Centro de llamadas EBT de Carolina del Norte al 1-888-622-7328.   

Los beneficios de FNS regulares son depositados entre el día 3 y 21 de cada mes. Las asignaciones de emergencia se depositan a partir del día 22 de cada mes.  Febrero será el último mes en que recibirán este pago adicional.  

Compare su información:

Si no está recibiendo el beneficio mensual máximo para su hogar, es posible que pueda aumentar su monto de beneficios actualizando su información. 

Miembros del Hogar ElegiblesBeneficio mensual máximo
1$281
2$516
3$740
4$939
5$1,116
6$1,339
7$1,480
Cada persona adicional+$211

Reporte cambios que podrían ayudarle a aumentar sus beneficios:

  • INGRESOS: ¿Perdió horas de trabajo o le redujeron el salario?   
  • VIVIENDA: ¿Aumentaron su renta, hipoteca o impuestos de propiedad?  
  • CUIDADO DE DEPENDIENTES: ¿Está pagando más por el cuidado de niños o el cuidado de un adulto discapacitado?   
  • GASTOS MÉDICOS: ¿Alguien en su hogar de 60 años o más o que tenga una discapacidad tiene costos médicos más de $ 35 / mes? Esto incluye el costo de servicios médicos, suministros médicos, primas de seguro de salud, copagos, medicamentos recetados y de venta libre, y más.   
  • PAGOS DE MANUTENCIÓN INFANTIL: ¿Está legalmente obligado a pagar manutención infantil?   
  • SU DIRECCIÓN: Esto no afectará su nivel de beneficios, pero puede perderse actualizaciones importantes si el Departamento de Servicios Sociales (DSS) no tiene su dirección actual. 

Comuníquese con su oficina de DSS local para informar cambios y/o averiguar si su gasto califica como una deducción: 

Comuníquese con su trabajador de DSS (si tiene uno), vaya a la oficina de DSS en persona o llame al número de servicio al cliente. También puede apelar si cree que sus beneficios mensuales regulares fueron calculados incorrectamente. 

Oficinas locales de DSS:

  • Condado de Mecklenburg
    • 704-336-3000
    • Wallace H. Kuralt Centre, 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • Community Resource Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
  • Condado de Union
    • 704-296-4300
    • 2330 Concord Avenue Monroe, NC 28110
  • Condado de Cabarrus
    • 704-920-1400
    • 1303 S. Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083

Si algo malo sucede, comuníquese con un defensor:

Si ha seguido los pasos anteriores y aún piensa que algo está mal con su caso de cupones de alimento, comuníquese con un representante legal para obtener ayuda. 

El Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte
(Condado de Mecklenburg)
704-376-1600 | Linea de Español 800-247-1931

Asistencia Legal de Carolina del Norte
(en todo el estado excepto en condados atendidos por el Centro de Apoyo Legal Charlotte y Servicios Legales Pisgah)
866-219-LANC (5262) | legalaidnc.org

Servicios Legales de Pisgah
(Condados de Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, y Yancey, Qualla Boundary)
800-489-6144 | pisgahlegal.org

¿Qué otros recursos alimentarios están disponibles?

  • WIC: Si tiene un hijo/a menor de 5 años y/o está embarazada o amamantando, puede ser elegible para WIC. Obtenga más información sobre WIC y complete una referencia de WIC en línea en https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.  
  • 211: Visite nc211.org o marque 211 para conectarse con recursos alimenticios comunitarios.
  • NC Care 360: Solicite ayuda o busque recursos haciendo clic en la pestaña “For Individuals” en https://nccare360.org/.  

Filing your 2022 tax returns: Frauds & scams

Posted on

Be aware of fraudulent tax preparers!

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. If you receive an unsolicited e-mail that appears to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration or other organization claiming to represent the United States government, you should report it by forwarding it to phishing@irs.gov.

Some tax scammers also use snail mail; so be aware, when you receive regular mail that purports to be from the IRS too.  If you are not sure, contact the IRS directly.

Keep-in-mind, as a taxpayer you are legally responsible for the information you represent on your tax return, even if the tax return is prepared by a third-party professional.

Do’s & Don’ts

  • DON’T use tax preparers who promise higher returns. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
  • DON’T use a paid tax return preparer who is not in compliance with IRS PTIN requirements.
  • DON’T fall for flyers and advertisements promising you “free money” from the IRS.  There is no such thing as “free money” from the IRS!
  • DO choose a tax preparer that has a valid IRS “Preparer Tax Identification Number” (PTIN).
    • Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN; and they must renew it annually.  Tax return preparers must also record their PTIN on your tax return and sign your tax return as the paid tax return preparer.
  • DO review your return before you sign it and make sure your preparer signs it too.
  • DO consider going to a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) location to have your tax return prepared for free.

Are you ready to file your 2022 Federal Income Tax return?

Posted on

Tax filing season for 2022 Federal tax returns opened January 23, 2023 and will run through April 18, 2023. Here is what we think you need to know and where to find more help. 

1. Your refund this tax season may be lower.

Many of the pandemic-era and American Rescue Plan Act credits expired at the end of 2021, so many tax credits have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Impacted credits include:

  • Child Tax Credit (CTC)
  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  • Child and Dependent Care Credit

Due to these changes, many taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller refund for 2022.   

Some examples include:

  • Eligible taxpayers who received $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the CTC will get $2,000 for the 2022 tax year.
  • For the EITC, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now receive $500 in 2022.
  • The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.

2. The Premium Tax Credit is still available – and may be available to more taxpayers.

The premium tax credit– also known as APTC – is a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. 

For tax years 2021 and 2022, the American Rescue Plan Act temporarily expanded the premium tax credit eligibility, eliminating the rule that a taxpayer with household income above 400% of the federal poverty line cannot qualify for a premium tax credit.

Premium Tax Credits and Filing Your 2022 Taxes

3. Be aware of fraudulent tax preparers

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information.

  • DON’T use tax preparers who promise higher returns
  • DO choose a tax preparer that has a valid IRS “Preparer Tax Identification Number” (PTIN). 
  • DON’T fall for flyers and advertisements promising you “free money” from the IRS.  There is no such thing as “free money” from the IRS!
  • DO review your return before you sign it and make sure your preparer signs it too.

Learn more about how to stay protected

4. You may be eligible for free income tax return preparation.

If your household income in 2022 was $60,000 or less, you could qualify to have your taxes prepared and submitted through the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Local VITA appointments

National VITA Services:

English: GetYourRefund.org

En español: GetYourRefund.org en español

If your household income was $72,000 or less, IRS Free File also lets you prepare and file your FEDERAL income tax online using guided tax preparation, at an IRS partner site or Free File Fillable Forms. There are options available in English and Spanish: Free File: Do your Federal Taxes for Free | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

5. Gig workers, small business owners, and those accepting virtual payments need to start preparing for filing their 2023 Federal Income Tax Return now.

In March 2021, Congress decided to change the rule that required Third-Party Settlement Organizations (TPSOs), such as Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App, to provide you and the IRS 1099-K forms if your transactions on their platforms in a year exceeded $20,000 and your number of transactions exceeded 200. 

The new rule lowered the minimum reporting limit on those platforms to any amount over $600 for one or more transactions. That change was supposed to take effect in 2022. 

However, the IRS recently decided to postpone this change until January 31, 2024. This means the IRS is taking the rules back to the pre-March 2021 threshold ($20,000 and 200 transactions) for 2022. 

BUT the lower reporting threshold (any number of transactions totaling $600) remains in effect for calendar year 2023 and beyond. If you are a gig worker, a small business owner, or receive payments from TPSOs for business purposes, it is smart to start preparing for 2024 now by logging your transactions. 

IRS 1099-K Frequently Asked Questions

BONUS TIP: We are here to help!

If you:

  • have trouble with the IRS
  • need assistance with an audit
  • disagree with a tax bill the IRS has sent but they are still taking money from your paycheck

We are here to help!

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s North Carolina Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic serves all of North Carolina by offering tax controversy services to low-income taxpayers. The Tax Clinic serves taxpayers who earn less than 250% of the federal poverty standard, including people who speak English as a second language. 

Learn more

Additional Resources

Owe taxes but cannot pay?
IRS Payment Options

Puede ser elegible para preparación de impuestos GRATUITO.

Posted on

¿Necesita ayuda para preparar sus impuestos? Conéctese con estos útiles recursos GRATUITOS para comenzar. 

VITA Latino

Los centros VITA ofrecen ayuda GRATUITA a la comunidad Latina que necesiten asistencia con la preparación de sus propias declaraciones de impuestos, incluyendo a:

  • Personas con ingreso de $57,000 o menos;
  • Personas que tengan número de seguro social o ITIN (W7);
  • Personas que tienen dominio limitado del inglés.

Haz tu cita: VITA Latino

AARP

Tax-Aide de la Fundación AARP brinda asistencia de impuestos en persona y virtual a cualquier persona sin cargo, con un enfoque especial en los contribuyentes mayores de 50 años o con ingresos bajos a moderados. Los voluntarios de Tax-Aide están ubicados en todo el país, y están capacitados y certificados por el IRS cada año para asegurarse de que entienden los últimos cambios y adiciones a el código fiscal.

Haz tu cita: AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service

GetYourRefund.org

GetYourRefund.org es un sitio web sin fines de lucro creado en asociación con los sitios de Asistencia Voluntaria a los Contribuyentes (VITA) certificados por el IRS a nivel nacional. El servicio brinda asistencia con la declaración de impuestos a las familias que ganan menos de $66,000 al año.

Tendrás que subir fotos de su identificación, responder preguntas sobre tu situación fiscal y subir tus documentos de ingresos. Un especialista en impuestos lo llamará por teléfono para hablar sobre sus impuestos, responder cualquier pregunta y completar su declaración. Sus voluntarios capacitados también pueden ayudarlo a presentar declaraciones de impuestos de años anteriores y asegurarse de que reciba los créditos fiscales para los que califica.

Visit GetYourRefund.org/ y click “Get Started”.

IRS Free File

Si el ingreso de su hogar fue de $72,000 o menos, Free File del IRS también le permite preparar y presentar su declaración de impuestos FEDERAL sobre la renta en línea mediante la preparación de impuestos guiada, en un sitio asociado del IRS o en los formularios rellenables de Free File. Hay opciones disponibles en inglés y español.

Free File del IRS: Haga sus impuestos gratuitamente | Internal Revenue Service

Contribuyentes de Bajos Ingresos de Carolina del Norte

¿Tiene problemas con el IRS? ¿Necesita ayuda con una auditoría? ¿El IRS está tomando dinero de su cheque de pago aunque no esté de acuerdo con una factura de impuestos que le envió? 

La Clínica para Contribuyentes de Bajos Ingresos de Carolina del Centro de Apoyo legal de Charlotte ayuda a los contribuyentes a comprender y manejar sus problemas fiscales. Más información sobre cómo podemos ayudar.