Developing Free Tax Preparation Programs
Understanding what free tax preparation is and promoting it are a great first step. But you may want to expand your outreach to include providing free in-person tax prep services on site. Doing this can be as simple as providing computer access for customers or as involved as hiring and training tax coaches to assist customers. Learn more about the options for developing your own free tax preparation program.
Getting Started
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program is an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation services for the underserved populations through various partner organizations. This service enables persons with disabilities, the elderly, low-to moderate-income individuals, and limited English speakers to file their taxes each year. IRS awards matching funds to organizations that offer free tax preparation services during the tax filing season.
How to help in your community
- Offer space within your facility for free tax prep by trained volunteers on site
- Encourage employees to become VITA volunteers
- Provide a tax coach or other trained volunteer onsite
You can become a VITA volunteer!
Volunteer to help your community with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program! You will receive training to provide free tax help for low-to-moderate income families who need assistance preparing their tax returns. As a volunteer, you will join the thousands of others who each year prepare millions of tax returns at thousands of tax sites nationwide.
Getting Started
Provide computer access to taxpayers
Partner with local VITA/Tax coalition to offer space within your facility for FREE tax prep by their trained volunteers on site
Provide computer access on site through your computer lab or resource center with desktop links to free online self tax-preparation sites for individuals to utilize during set hours
Partner with IRS to implement VITA on-site:
Set up a VITA site in your facility — IRS VITA site grant program
Connect with IRS SPEC Representative for help setting up program and accessing IRS resources. This contact information is typically known by the region’s tax coalition and VITA sites
Become an IRS Partner to help in your community
Provide a Tax Coach or other trained volunteer onsite
Free Tax Preparation Services
People with Disabilities
Free tax preparation introduces financial education to the disability community to help individuals build a more stable financial future.
Job Seekers
Free tax preparation expands services in organizations who help job seekers in an easy and cost-effective way.
Questions?
National Disability Institute works to improve the financial health and well-being of people across the spectrum of disability.
If you have questions or want more information about our projects, please call (202) 296-2040 or email info@ndi-inc.org.
