Investing, Finance & Taxes

Library staff will help you find forms or information; they are not, however, qualified to help you fill out forms or to provide tax advice.

Volunteer to Be a Tax Preparer

For the last several years, the Columbia Public Library, in partnership with local volunteers, has offered free tax preparation services. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, an IRS affiliate, is gearing up for the 2025 tax season and is seeking more Mid-Missouri volunteers to handle the expected volume.

Visit the IRS Tax Volunteers website to learn how you can help people in your community with their taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.

Tax Forms

The library will have very limited quantities of the basic federal forms from the IRS. These are available to you at no cost. Please note:

• The IRS is no longer providing paper copies of Publication 17 for libraries to distribute. We will have a very limited amount of instruction booklets for the 1040 form.
• The MO Department of Revenue does not provide paper forms for libraries to distribute.

You can download and print your own federal forms and instructions or Missouri forms. (Printing from library computers costs 10¢ per page.)

• View the 1040 instruction booklet for tax year 2025.

Local Taxpayer Assistance

The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

Free Income Tax Help at the Columbia Public Library (for in-state returns only), 2026

The library will begin to take appointments for the VITA tax help service on Friday, January 16, and the program will run January 30 – April 13, 2026.
Call (573) 443-3161 to make an appointment. Appointments will be scheduled during open hours at the Columbia Public Library.

The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax help to people who earn less than $67K ($134K for married filing jointly) as well as those who are elderly, have disabilities or limited English skills. 

There are some tax returns that cannot be filed through VITA. Please ask if you have questions.

If you have an appointment with VITA tax help, please bring the following items with you to your appointment.

1. Copy of the most recently filed tax return
2.  Identification
   • A photo ID for the taxpayer
   • Social Security cards and/or ITIN notices and birth dates for every individual on your return.
3. Income
   • W-2 for each employer and other income-related documents
   • Social Security, railroad retirement or veteran’s benefits
   • All 1099 forms (1099-G, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.)
   • Personal business income and expenses
4. Deductions
   • Dependent care provider info
   • Education 1098-T and student loan payments
   • 1098 form showing home mortgage interest
   • Health insurance and out-of-pocket medical costs
   • Long-term care insurance receipts
   • Property tax receipts and tax receipts for new car purchase
   • Charity receipts
5. Health Insurance
   • Marketplace health insurance form 1095A
   • Income documents for all household members whether claimed as dependent or not, including students living at college, even if they had no coverage for all or part of 2025.
6. Property Tax Credit or Rent Credit
   • Real Estate tax receipt or rent verification letter with landlord’s name, address and phone number (MO Form 5674)
   • For mobile homes, property tax receipt and rent verification letter with landlord’s name, address and phone number (MO Form 5674)
7. For Direct Deposit Tax Refunds
   • Tax refunds now require direct deposit. (The IRS will no longer mail out paper checks.)
   • Checkbook, blank check or account statement showing account number and routing number (not deposit slips or credit/debit card)

Appointments are limited and will be scheduled during select open hours at the Columbia Public Library on Mondays and Wednesday-Saturday. The service is subject to change based on weather conditions and availability of our volunteers. The free income tax service is through the VITA program, an IRS affiliate. Tax counselors are unpaid volunteers that are IRS certified.

AARP Tax Help at Salvation Army, 2026

Provided by AARP Foundation volunteers
Salvation Army on Ash Street
1108 W. Ash St., Columbia
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: noon-4 p.m.
Tax help starts February 3 and continues through April 15 by appointment only. Call 573-227-3325 to make an appointment.

VITA Tax Help at Family Impact Center, 2026

MU Family Impact Center
105 E. Ash St., Columbia
573-882-2428

This service will start on Monday, January 26. Appointments are done on a walk-in basis every Monday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. They will be closed for MU’s Spring Break on Monday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 25. The last day of service is April 15.

Income Tax Assistance Callaway County, 2026

Callaway Senior Center
531 Commons Dr., Fulton
573-416-0858

Tax help will be offered starting on February 2 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8-11 a.m. by appointment only. Call 573-416-0858 to make an appointment starting on Thursday, January 15. Please come to appointment 15 minutes early to complete an Intake sheet. Bring last year’s tax return, a driver’s license for each taxpayer, SS cards for each person listed on the tax return, W-2’s, 1099’s, SSA-1099, 1095-A for Marketplace insurance, any additional health insurance premiums paid and LTC insurance premiums paid. If you plan to file for the MO Property Tax Credit, bring a paid R/E tax receipt or a statement from the landlord of rent paid, along with SSI or VA benefits if appropriate. If you wish to direct deposit any refund, bring a voided check. Service is provided by AARP Foundation and VITA volunteers.

Federal

Federal Tax Information
Internal Revenue Service
Electronic Filing Information
Free File (Free Electronic Filing)
Forms & Publications Orders	800-829-3676
Tax Assistance	800-829-1040
Taxpayer Advocate Service	877-777-4778
TTY/TDD Help	800-829-4059

Mailing Address for Federal Tax Returns (Missouri Residents)

If you are enclosing a check or money order, mail your return to:

Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000

If you are not enclosing a check or money order, mail your return to:

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002

Missouri

Missouri Department of Revenue Tax Assistance Center
Truman Building, 301 W. High St., Room 330, Jefferson City, MO, 573-751-3505

The MO Department of Revenue is no longer providing paper forms for libraries to distribute. You can download and print your own Missouri forms. (Printing from library computers costs 10¢ per page.)

Missouri Tax Information
MO Department of Revenue
Electronic Filing Information
Customer Assistance	573-751-3505
Previous Return & Form Questions	573-751-3505
TTY/TDD Help	800-735-2966

Mailing Addresses for Missouri Tax Returns

If you are expecting a refund, mail your return to:

Individual Income Tax
P.O. Box 500
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0500

If you owe, mail your return to:

Individual Income Tax
P.O. Box 329
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0329

Where’s My Refund?

• Missouri Department of Revenue Refund or Balance Due Status
  By phone: 573-526-TAXX (8299)
• IRS (Federal) Refund Status
  By phone: 800-829-4477