ADVOCACYVA program
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Free basic tax return preparation by IRS-certified volunteers, a program that has operated for over 50 years. Find a nearby site with the IRS VITA locator tool or by calling 800-906-9887; Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites offer the same free help with a focus on taxpayers 60 and older.
No program-wide income limit; many sites help people who generally make about $70,244 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Free basic tax return preparation from IRS-certified volunteers at community sites, with free tax help for people 60 and older through Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE).
Who VITA sites serve
- Who many sites helpThe IRS lists people who generally make up to the income line on its VITA page, persons with disabilities, and taxpayers who speak limited English.
- A basic returnSites prepare common returns: wages, interest, retirement income including Social Security, unemployment, and common credits. They do not prepare complex returns, such as a business with a net loss or a return with casualty or disaster losses. Services vary by site, based on which volunteers are certified.
- Your papers at the siteVolunteers need your ID, Social Security cards or ITIN papers, and income forms to prepare the return. To file a joint return electronically, both spouses must be there to sign.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab); IRS Publication 3676-B (Rev. 12-2024) (opens in new tab); IRS: checklist for free tax return preparation (opens in new tab)
Which program fits?
- VITA: free basic tax preparation
The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free basic tax return preparation. IRS-certified volunteers at community sites prepare the return, and the IRS requires a quality review of every return before it is filed. The IRS sets no program-wide income limit, but the program generally focuses on people who meet the Earned Income Tax Credit income guidelines, and each site may set its own limit.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab); IRS Publication 3676-B (Rev. 12-2024) (opens in new tab)
- TCE: free tax help, especially for age 60 and older
Tax Counseling for the Elderly offers free tax help, particularly for people 60 and older, with a focus on pensions and retirement questions. Most TCE sites are run by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program.
- Pension and retirement questionsTCE specializes in questions about pensions and retirement that are unique to seniors.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID Original photo ID for you, and your spouse if you file jointly, such as a driver's license, state ID, or military ID. | Who you are | Bring it to the site. | Yes |
| Social Security cards or ITIN papers Social Security cards for you, your spouse, and your dependents, or ITIN papers for anyone without a Social Security number. | The numbers that go on the return | Bring them to the site. They do not go to BeneVets. | Yes |
| Income forms Every Form W-2 and 1099 you received, including Form 1099-R for retirement pay and Form SSA-1099 for Social Security. | Your income for the year | Bring every one you received. | Yes |
| Last year's tax return A copy of last year's federal and state returns, if you have them. | What you filed before | Bring a copy if you have one. | Yes |
Bring these to the tax site. BeneVets does not ask for them, and does not ask for Social Security or bank numbers.
Steps, in order
- Free help with VA benefits
VITA and TCE volunteers help with tax returns. A VA benefit claim is a separate thing. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
- Find a site
Use the IRS VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887. Sites are often at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, and shopping malls. The locator is updated regularly from February through April.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
- For TCE, try AARP Tax-Aide
Most TCE sites are run by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. Between January and April, use the AARP site locator or call 888-227-7669.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
- Check what the site prepares
Before you go, read IRS Publication 3676-B for what VITA and TCE sites will and will not prepare. Services vary by site, based on which volunteers are certified for your kind of return.
Source: IRS Publication 3676-B (Rev. 12-2024) (opens in new tab); IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
- Gather your papers
The IRS checklist includes photo ID, Social Security cards or ITIN papers, birth dates for everyone on the return, every W-2 and 1099, and last year's return, plus Form 1095-A and what you paid a daycare provider with their tax ID number, if they apply. For a refund by direct deposit, it includes proof of your account and routing numbers, such as a blank check.
Source: IRS: checklist for free tax return preparation (opens in new tab); IRS Publication 3676-B (Rev. 12-2024) (opens in new tab)
Good to know
VITA and TCE are free. Every volunteer who prepares returns must pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards, including keeping your information private and confidential.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
IRS Publication 525 says VA disability compensation and pension payments, paid to veterans or their families, are not taxable income. VA education and training allowances are not taxable either.
At sites that list Self-Prep, you can prepare your own basic federal and state return for free with web software, with an IRS-certified volunteer to guide you.
Source: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab)
Military OneSource MilTax offers free tax software and consultants to active duty members, the family members Military OneSource serves, survivors, and recent veterans up to 365 days from separation or retirement.
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 16, 2026: IRS: free tax return preparation (VITA and TCE) (opens in new tab), IRS: checklist for free tax return preparation (opens in new tab), IRS Publication 3676-B (Rev. 12-2024) (opens in new tab), IRS Publication 525 (2025) (opens in new tab), Military OneSource: MilTax (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)