Janice Shih | 5/14/2021, 6 a.m. To find a tax return preparer certified by the IRS, visit the IRS website: www. IRS.gov. Another option is to consult a VITA site (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). A local VITA site is the CASH Campaign of Maryland (410-234- 8008), which offers free tax return preparation for households that earn less than $56,000. Pexels-Nataliya Vaitkevich It is difficult to make a generalization about what income is taxable and what is not. So how do you determine whether or not you need to file a tax return? One factor is whether or not you meet the threshold for the requirement for filing a tax return. However, this threshold may vary depending on your age, your filing status and your gross income. To determine whether or not you need to file a tax return, it is best to consult a tax professional.