Filing taxes is often a headache, especially during the past few years — when most people received no-strings-attached cash from the federal government. But there are some groups in Middle Tennessee that are offering no-cost assistance.

Most Nashville residents have received three rounds of stimulus checks since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Another pool of families, with children under 18, temporarily benefited from advance payments of the Child Tax Credit.

It allowed parents to receive “early payments from the IRS of 50% of the estimated amount of the Child Tax Credit” that they may have claimed on their 2021 tax return during the 2022 filing season. The funds were distributed from July until December of last year.

But not every eligible person received those funds. Thousands of Middle Tennesseans could be owed tax credits for their qualifying dependents. And some may still be able to claim their third stimulus check, if they never received it.

There are a number of reasons why those checks might not have come, tax experts say. In some cases, it’s because they haven’t filed taxes in a while, so the IRS may not have their current address or direct deposit information.

Or it might be because their child wasn’t born when the payments began.

“So, if the child wasn’t born yet, they wouldn’t have been on there,” said Samantha Williams, associate director of financial mobility at United Way of Greater Nashville.

“Sometimes there’s split custody with a divorce, and one parent claims one year and one claims the other.”

Williams told WPLN News that the payment would have been sent to the parent who claimed the child on their 2020 tax return.

She also said the best way for taxpayers to resolve any issues is to gather their financial and legal documents, along with any letters sent by the IRS, before filing their 2021 tax return. Parents should have received Letter 6419. It details the amount of money they received. It can also be used to help people secure any missing payments.

A separate document, Letter 6475, details the total dollar amount in third round stimulus money that individuals have received. That too can be used to determine if taxpayers are owed additional funds or are able to claim the federal Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS began issuing these letters in late January.

Tax filers who were expecting letters but didn’t receive them can view their payment amounts by setting up an account at IRS.gov.

Where to get free help

That might be confusing, but there is free one-on-one tax help through United Way’s VITA program. To qualify, individuals and families must have earned less than $70,000 in 2021. Help can be provided in-person and online. There’s also a do-it-yourself option that doesn’t have an income restriction.

Tax filers are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit unitedwayfilefree.com for more information.

Face-to-face assistance is also available at 19 sites throughout Middle Tennessee, including five locations in Nashville until April:

• Conexión Américas, 2195 Nolensville Pike
• Redeemed Christian Church of God, 3221 Nolensville Pike
• St. Luke’s Community House, 5601 New York Ave.
• Westwood Baptist Church Center, 2510 Albion St.
• Woodbine Community Center, 635 Spence Lane