Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
VITA is a federal initiative that supports free tax return preparation for qualified individuals.
What is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program?
VITA is free tax return preparation that allows individuals making $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speakers to file their taxes with the Internal Revenue Service each year.
In addition to VITA, the TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly ) offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years and older with questions about pensions and retirement related issues.
United Way supports the VITA programs in Washington, DC, and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia by:
- Partnering with IRS-certified VITA tax volunteers at VITA sites
- Offering free tax filing online through United Way’s MyFreeTaxes at our financial empowerment centers.
Vita Tax Prep Eligibility
Individuals who earn less than $60,000 may be eligible for free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC helps eligible workers and their families to receive a tax break.
The VITA program allows IRS-certified tax volunteers to provide free income tax preparation services with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
Those eligible to receive assistance include:
- Individuals who earn less than $60,000,
- Individuals with limited knowledge of English,
- Individuals with disabilities, and
- There is another program, the TCE program, for individuals who are 60 years of age and older.
The National Capital Area has a high percentage of eligible filers, yet there are still many individuals are not filing taxes or receiving the maximum refund to which they are eligible, primarily because they are unaware of VITA and EITC. United Way NCA raises awareness and supports access for eligible individuals. View our 2024 EITC Awareness Event webinar to learn more.
To learn more about VITA services and who qualifies, please visit the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers.
To learn more about who is qualified to receive Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), please visit the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/who-qualifies-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc .
Help By Becoming A Vita Tax Volunteer
VITA volunteers learn to prepare taxes from IRS professionals and use those skills to make a difference in the National Capital Area. This is a valuable service that helps many filers understand their taxes and file them correctly to receive the highest return.
To learn more about how to become a certified VITA volunteer please visit the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers.
Partner Tax Preparation Organizations
United Way NCA has collaborated with community partners and VITA sites to help qualified individuals complete their tax returns accurately. Previous partners include:
What is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program?
VITA is free tax return preparation that allows individuals making $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speakers to file their taxes with the Internal Revenue Service each year.
In addition to VITA, the TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly ) offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years and older with questions about pensions and retirement related issues.
United Way supports the VITA programs in Washington, DC, and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia by:
- Partnering with IRS-certified VITA tax volunteers at VITA sites
- Offering free tax filing online through United Way’s MyFreeTaxes at our financial empowerment centers.
Vita Tax Prep Eligibility
Individuals who earn less than $60,000 may be eligible for free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC helps eligible workers and their families to receive a tax break.
The VITA program allows IRS-certified tax volunteers to provide free income tax preparation services with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
Those eligible to receive assistance include:
- Individuals who earn less than $60,000,
- Individuals with limited knowledge of English,
- Individuals with disabilities, and
- There is another program, the TCE program, for individuals who are 60 years of age and older.
The National Capital Area has a high percentage of eligible filers, yet there are still many individuals are not filing taxes or receiving the maximum refund to which they are eligible, primarily because they are unaware of VITA and EITC. United Way NCA raises awareness and supports access for eligible individuals. View our 2024 EITC Awareness Event webinar to learn more.
To learn more about VITA services and who qualifies, please visit the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers.
To learn more about who is qualified to receive Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), please visit the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/who-qualifies-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc .
Help By Becoming A Vita Tax Volunteer
VITA volunteers learn to prepare taxes from IRS professionals and use those skills to make a difference in the National Capital Area. This is a valuable service that helps many filers understand their taxes and file them correctly to receive the highest return.
To learn more about how to become a certified VITA volunteer please visit the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers.
