Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm not available on Wednesday evenings?

We encourage you to consider using one of the other IRS sponsored VITA locations or file your tax return yourself on IRS Direct File: File Taxes for Free Directly with IRS. 

What to Bring

Each client using VITA’s services MUST bring the following items to the clinic in order for us to process your tax return:

• Photo ID (ex: Driver License)

• Original Social Security cards (if you do not have a social security card, please bring your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available (Form 1040, CA Form 540 - 2021)

• Wage and earning statement(s): Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc for all employers.

• Social Security Benefit Statements (SSA-1099), if applicable

• Tuition payments, scholarships, and other educational related documentation of expenses.

• Birth dates for you, spouse, and dependents.

• If applicable, dates of divorce, recently deceased spouses, or other major life events.

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (All Form 1099’s)

• Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available

• Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check

• For Day Care: Provider’s identifying number, phone number, and amount paid for care

• Health insurance coverage information (Forms 1095-A, B and C, Health Coverage Statements)

• All other current tax documents/forms including relevant income/expense information

• Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable

It is extremely important that each person use the correct Social Security number. For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms to electronically file a joint return.

If you have the following forms on-hand, they can be generally processed by our clinic: 

W-2, 1095-B, 1095-C, 1098-E, 1098-Q, 1098-T (unless box 4 and 6 is checked), 1099-DIV, 1099-G, 1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-R (if taxable amount is determined), SSA-1099, 2120, 2441, 5329, 8812, 8853, 8863.

We cannot serve you if any of the following apply to your circumstances:

Do You Qualify?

VITA offers free tax help to people whose gross income is $70,000 or less. The following requirements are subject to change for the 2024 tax return year but this can be a helpful guide determining eligibility.

If one of the following is part of this year’s tax return, we will NOT be able to provide you with assistance:

• Complex Schedule D, Capital gains transactions (i.e. stock sales)

• Schedule C with net loss 

• Business use of home

• Rental income

• Income from a partnership or trust

• Depreciation related to business income

• Multi-state tax forms

• Form 1040 NR

• Parts 4 & 5 of Form 8962 (Allocation of Policy Amounts)

• Returns with casualty/disaster losses

• We DO NOT do returns for taxpayers “Married Filing Separate”

Income Sources Outside of the Scope of our Clinic

If you received income from the following sources, we cannot prepare your return:

·         Foreign income (e.g., earnings abroad, retirement, etc.)

·         Traded or held cryptocurrency

·         Professional gambling income

·         Pass-through business income or loss

·         Rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, C corporations, trusts, etc.

Deductions and Tax Returns Outside the Scope of our Clinic

The following types of tax returns cannot be prepared by our clinic:

·         Active-duty military taxpayer return.

·         Foreign student or foreign tax return. 

·         Seeking to have business tax return prepared.

·         Seeking to file an Amended Return, limited.

·         Married, filing separately

·         Divorced in the year 2024

*If you have other forms, this may suggest that your tax return is "out-of-scope" for our clinic and we cannot serve you. For instance, Form SS-5, Form SS-8, Form 8606, Form 8615, Form 8814, Form 8962.

Other Helpful Resources

My Free Taxes