TAX ASSISTANCE

ELIGIBILITY

• You must have a 2025 household income of $67,000 or less.

Available Tax Services: 

The VITA program assists with most common tax returns, including:

• Wages and employment income
• Self-employment, contract, and cash income (within scope)
• ITIN filers
• Tax credits (CalEITC, EITC, CTC, YCTC, etc.)
• Unemployment income
• Social Security and retirement income
• Gambling winnings
• Mortgage interest and charitable deductions
• Medical expense deductions
• Prior-year returns (up to three prior tax years: 2024, 2023, 2022)

Services Not Covered by VITA

VITA cannot assist with:

• Returns where identity cannot be verified (no photo ID or original SSN/ITIN letter)
• Married Filing Separate returns in California
• Businesses with:
  • Losses
  • Employees, inventory, or business property
  • Depreciation or assets
  • Business expenses over $35,000
  • Business deductions without documentation
  • Handwritten tax forms
• More than five (5) capital gains transactions (e.g., stock sales)
• Cryptocurrency, foreign income, royalties, partnerships, LLC K-1 income
• Income from a partnership or trust (Schedule K-1)
• Rental income or Airbnb income
• Nonresident Alien returns (F, J, M, Q visas requiring Form 1040-NR)
• Multi-state tax returns

If your return is out of scope, you may:

• Use MyFreeTaxes.org to file on your own, or
• Seek assistance from a tax professional for complex situations

REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION 

• Valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, State ID, or Passport)
• Original Social Security card or ITIN letter

• For you, your spouse, and all dependents.

*Photocopies and photos are not accepted.

INCOME DOCUMENTS 

Bring all forms that apply to you, including:

• Form W-2 (wages)
• Form W-2G (gambling winnings)
• Forms 1099-INT, 1099-R, 1099-MISC
• Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099), if applicable
• Unemployment income statements, if applicable
• Any other tax or income documents received by mail
• Interest and dividend statements from banks or financial institutions (Forms 1099)
• Prior year tax return, if available

HEALTH INSURANCE 

• Health insurance coverage statements

(Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, and/or 1095-C)

• Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received

BANKING INFORMATION

• Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit

(A voided or blank check is acceptable)

EDUCATION & OTHER EXPENSES (IF APPLICABLE) 

• Qualified education expenses (books, supplies, course materials)
• Mortgage interest, tuition, or student loan interest statements
• (Forms 1098, 1098-T, or 1098-E)
• Charitable donations (receipts required for contributions over $250)
• Childcare expenses (provider name, address, and Tax ID or SSN)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY REQUIREMENT 

To file Married Filing Joint electronically, both spouses must be present to sign required forms.

HELPFUL DOCUMENTS TO MAXIMIZE CREDITS & DEDUCTIONS 

These are not required, but may help increase your refund:

• Retirement/IRA (Individual Retirement Account) contributions not deducted from your paycheck
• Educator expenses for teachers K-12 (school supplies and materials used in the classroom)
• DMV vehicle registration
• Property tax payments
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance 

IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

Click here to volunteer for the 2025 VITA Program. 

For questions, please contact Lucia Alarcon at lalarcon@unitedwaysb.org or (805) 965-2078.