Tax-Aide of the East Bay
Free tax assistance in
Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, and Albany
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Quick Links
Can we do your taxes? (more information below)
Local Tax-Aide and VITA sites
Intake Booklet (complete before your appointment)
What to bring to your appointment (printable checklist)
Important Change for Tax Refunds!
If you are owed a tax refund, you must provide direct deposit information to avoid significant delays and correspondence from the IRS.
Direct deposit information is available on your checks. Most banking apps also have this information. If necessary, get a letter from your bank with your routing number and account number.
You can't use the number on your debit card.
Can We Do Your Taxes?
Common Situations That Prevent Tax-Aide From Doing Your Return
(1) Rental income, (2) Self-employment with employees or a business loss, (3) Claiming self-employment expenses for a home office or for actual car expenses (we can deduct mileage instead).
Review this Scope Limitations Document for additional restrictions.
Additional Limitations for California
We can't prepare returns for: taxpayers who are (1) Part-year California residents; (2) Registered in California as Domestic Partners; (3) Married filing separately unless you lived apart for all of 2025. (4) Divorced in 2025 but lived with their former spouse for any part of 2025.
Additional Limitation for "No Tax on Overtime"
Not all overtime is eligible for the new “no tax on overtime” deduction. Because the rules for eligible overtime are extremely complex, we require documentation from your employer in order to get you the overtime deduction. The documentation can be on your W-2 or on a separate document.
Employers are not required to provide this information for 2025. We can still do your 2025 taxes without the documentation, but you won’t get this new deduction. To claim the overtime deduction on your 2025 taxes without employer-provided documentation, use a different tax preparation service.
Starting in 2026, your employer is required to report this amount on your W-2, and we will be able to get you the deduction.
Items to Bring to Your Appointment
Our printable checklist provides additional details about income and deduction documents to bring.
Photo IDs for taxpayer and spouse
Social Security or ITIN card for everyone on the return, including dependents
Completed Intake Booklet.
All 2025 tax documents for all sources of income.
Checkbook or bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit
As of 2026, refunds will be delayed for returns without direct deposit information.Last year's tax return (if available)
2026 IRS Identity Protection PINs for any taxpayers or dependents on the return who were issued one.
New PIN are issued yearly, so check that all PINs were issued in or after December 2025.The forms listed below - print and fill out ahead of time.
Required Form for All Taxpayers
Intake Booklet (if you don't have a printer, you can pick up a blank form ahead of time at the site where you make your appointment)
Additional Forms for Some Taxpayers
Self-Employment Worksheet (if you have self-employement income, including gig work)
ALSO BRING: any 1099-NEC forms you received, and gather the mileage information for business use of a vehicle.
Tax-Aide can't prepare your return if you opt to use actual vehicle expenses rather than mileage.
Itemized Deduction Worksheet (if you expect to itemize deductions)
ALSO BRING: your property tax statement, mortgage interest statement, a list of medical bills (totaled), a list of
charitable contributions (totaled), and your car registration statement.
Education Credits Worksheet (if you had education expenses for you or a dependent)
ALSO BRING: any 1098-T and 1098-Q forms that you or the student received.
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