What is VITA?

The mission of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is to provide free tax preparation to low- and moderate-income individuals and families, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need tax return assistance from reliable tax professionals.

Last year, the VITA program helped prepare more than 3.5 million tax returns nationally. This was only made possible by the 82,000 volunteers who trained and became certified in tax law to assist members of their community. Tax preparation can be costly, but this program helps put money back into the pockets of local families by guaranteeing the maximum refund without costing a dime.

What to Bring

Last Year’s Taxes

A copy of last year’s return (if available).

Photo ID

Valid photo identification for all adults on the return.

Social Security Cards / ITIN

Required for all individuals listed on the return.

CA Middle-Class Tax Refund

Bring your 1099-MISC if you received this refund.

Wage & Income Statements

Forms W-2, W2-G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC.

Health Insurance Forms

Form 1095-A & 3895 for Covered CA; Form 1095-B/C for Medi-Cal or employer insurance.

Student Tax Form

Form 1098-T if you or a dependent were a student.

Interest / Dividend Income

Forms 1099-INT and 1099-DIV from your bank or investments.

Childcare Expenses

Total paid to childcare providers and their tax ID numbers.

Direct Deposit Info

Routing and account numbers for faster refunds.

Joint Filing?

Your spouse must be present if filing jointly.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Generally, to qualify for in-person help you cannot make more than $85,000 / year. If you made more than $85,000, you may still qualify. Contact us at (209)384-1329 for assistance.
Click here for a listing of what types of Income/Forms we can and can’t help with
If you are married but filing separately we are unable to assist you
If you bought, sold, or received any form of virtual currency (crypto) we are unable to assist you
First, we prepare your tax return for free either in-person at our centrally located VITA sites or virtually through our Virtual VITA program.
Then, our IRS-certified quality reviewers will double-check the return, review it with you, obtain your signature, and e-file it.
That depends! Each VITA site has a different process for how they handle returns. Sites can be: walk-in only, appointment required, or virtual. You’ll need to contact the site you are interested in for more info.
If you earned more than $14,600 in 2024 you may be required to file a Federal Tax Return (Your State Tax Return may be lower). There are other cases where you may be required to file even if you earned less than that amount. Give us a call at (209)384-1329 to discuss your filing requirements.
Even if you aren’t required to file a tax return it may still be a good idea to file as you may qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)
We are able to prepare tax returns and support for the following tax years:
2019 - 2024
No worries! If you have a question that isn’t listed here, feel free to give us a call at (209)384-1329 or e-mail us at VITA@unitedwaymerced.org