The NC VITA Coalition ​Provides Free Tax ​Preparation Services to ​Qualifying Families

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What is VITA and who qualifies?

How can VITA help me prepare my tax return?

The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The VITA ​program has operated for over 50 years.


Do I qualify for free tax help from VITA?

VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

  • People who generally make $64,000 or less
  • Persons with disabilities; and
  • Limited English-speaking taxpayers


Who runs the VITA program?

While the IRS manages the VITA program, VITA sites are operated by IRS partners and staffed by volunteers who want to make a ​difference in their communities. Local VITA teams are made up of IRS-certified volunteers who provide tax counseling and are ​trained to help you prepare your federal tax return. They are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that ​receive grants from the IRS.


How do I know I can trust VITA for help with my tax return?

VITA services are not only free, they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. All VITA volunteers who prepare ​returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and ​confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS ​requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing. Each filing season, tens of thousands of ​dedicated VITA volunteers prepare millions of federal and state returns.

How It Works

Person Holding a Smartphone

Answer Questions & ​Upload Documents

The “Start My Taxes” link below takes ​you to GetYourRefund.org, our tax inta​ke system. You’ll answer some basi​c questions about your income, family, a​nd tax situation. Then you’ll snap a ​photo of your tax documents with you​r smartphone. All this information​ is kept strictly confide​ntial and secure.

Connect With a VITA Site

Once you enter your information into ​the system, you’ll be connected with a ​local VITA site, run by community ​organizations and volunteers. Our goal ​is to connect you to a VITA site as ​close to where you live as possible.

Tax Documents on Black Table

Discuss, Review, & Sign Tax Return

The IRS-trained volunteers will discuss ​your information and tax documents with ​you, prepare your tax return, have a ​second volunteer double-check the return ​for accuracy, and then discuss the results ​with you. Once all your questions are ​answered, you’ll sign off on the return and ​we will transmit it to the IRS for you.

Ready to get started?

Click “Start My Taxes” and you’ll be connected with the tax intake ​system, powered by Code4America’s GetYourRefund platform.

Pro Tip: The process is easiest to navigate on a ​smartphone. If you’re visiting this page on a computer, ​scan this QR code to get started on your phone.

Still Have Questions?

No problem. We’re happy to answer any ​questions you have about how the process ​works. Submit this contact form and ​someone will be in touch soon!