VITA Free Tax Prep Assistance

business professional looking at stack of papers
VITA Impact 2023
VOLUNTEER WITH VITA

GET HELP

Check back here for Appointments for the 2024 Tax Season. They will be open shortly. Please call 941-421-7100 for information. 

Please visit www.myfreetaxes.com if you need assistance filing your 2023 tax return.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program offers free tax preparation and e-filing services to individuals and families with an annual household income at or below $66,000.

VITA tax preparers are certified by the IRS to ensure that clients receive all eligible Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and Child Tax Credits. In addition, clients save money by not having to pay fees associated with tax preparation.

The Big Picture

logoHere are more details about the VITA program.  Click below to read the columns that were featured in the Charlotte Sun.

Click here for more information on Florida's United Ways involvement with free tax preparation assistance.

GIVE HELP

Make a difference this tax season by serving as a VITA volunteer! We offer flexible hours — typically four to five hours per week from February through April — and no previous experience is required. Our volunteers receive free, specialized training and can serve in a variety of roles, including greeter, tax preparer, and quality reviewer.

Through the VITA program, you can help hard-working individuals and families in our community take advantage of every credit and deduction they qualify for and reinvest their refunds back into Charlotte County.

Contact us at 941-627-3539 for more information or complete the volunteer application.

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Basic computer proficiency
  • Willingness to work with diverse populations
  • Ability to successfully complete IRS tax law and e-file training and certification program (tax preparers and quality reviewers only)

Get Involved: Volunteer with VITA

Volunteering for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a fun and easy way to help others in our community. You don’t need to be a numbers-person to help, either! The software (a partnership between Tax-Slayer and the IRS) does all of the heavy lifting. Over 85% of our volunteers have had no prior experience in tax prep.

Volunteer Positions: 

  • Appointment Setters make phone calls to clients to schedule their time slot. 
  • Greeters welcome VITA clients to the site and ensure that they are prepared with all required documentation to meet with the tax preparer.
  • Document Scanners collect required documentation from VITA Valet clients and scan them electronically for our tax preparers.
  • Tax Preparers help individuals and families prepare their tax returns and ensure all eligible taxpayers receive their qualifying tax credits.
  • Site Coordinators/Quality Reviewers manage the operations of the United Way VITA site, including volunteer staff and quality control.

These roles contribute to families’ financial stability every year. Behind every return there is a story. Volunteers hear these stories and experience first-hand how they are making a difference every time they volunteer.