Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION

When: Starting Saturday, February 8 through April 12, every Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. The last appointment will be at 3 pm to allow sufficient time to prepare, review, and eFile the returns because it will take an average of 2 to 3 hours to complete a return.

For more details, Click on Book an Appointment or go to the bottom of the page.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $67,000 or less a year, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free income tax return preparation with electronic filing for qualified taxpayers.

The COC students and community volunteers will partner with members of the Business Department (volunteered Accounting professors) to help low-to-moderate income members of the Santa Clarita Valley and neighboring communities get every income tax refund dollar they are entitled to. All returns are reviewed for quality assurance prior to submission. This service is free to area residents, students and is open to the public. The qualifying income bracket for participants is a gross income below $67,000.

Under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners and community professionals, trained and certified COC students/volunteers provide free tax preparation services (federal and state) to eligible low-to-mid-income taxpayers. COC-VITA services will be offered at the COC campus from the first Saturday of February after February 7 through April 12...

The COC-VITA program does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services, and activities or collaborations. For further information about this policy, or if anyone needs additional accommodation for the services provided by COC-VITA, they can contact us.

For the fastest response, our community members and/or the general public should book an appointment online at canyons.edu for a more specific time, or they may walk in for first-come, first-served service. Individual sessions may run two to three (2-3) hours in length. Time slots are secured on a first-come, first-served, or appointment basis. Those who do not qualify for our services will have to contact a professional tax preparer for further assistance.

Book an Appointment

For additional information (including detailed VITA services), please visit the IRS website at irs.gov

On the Day of the Appointment:

Book an Appointment

Please Note: The following items (as applicable) are required to help our volunteers prepare the client's tax return accurately.

• Driver's License (or an Identification Card).
• Social Security Cards or official documents from the Social Security office for all persons to be listed on your tax return. Otherwise, we can apply for Tax Identification Number(s).
• Copy of 2022 & 2023 tax returns.
• All W-2s and Other Income Documents (be sure you have all W-2s from all of the 2024 Employers)
• Pension, Retirement and Social Security Statements
• Unemployment Compensation Documentation (Form 1099G)
• Interest or Dividend Income Statement (Form 1099INT/Form 1099DIV)
• Health Care Coverage Documentation (Form 1095A, B or C)
• Income Amount (from summer job, 1099s-etc.) for all dependents and people in your household
• Tuition Payments Statement (for you, your spouse and/or dependent child)
• Statement of Student Loan Interest Paid
• Total Amount Paid for Child Care Expenses (along with the name, address, and tax ID number of the provider(s) to whom the childcare expenses were paid)
• If itemizing: total mortgage interest paid, school & property taxes paid, unreimbursed employee business expenses, documentation of charitable contributions, unreimbursed medical expenses, etc.
• If you itemized last year, bring the amount of the State Refund and a copy of your 2022 and 2023 state tax returns.
• The amount paid in 2023 will be for energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation, new furnaces, air conditioners, etc. Also, the 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 tax returns with any of these items claimed.
• For Direct Deposit of a Tax Refund, bring your bank's routing number and account number for your checking or savings account (a blank voided check is the best option).

Make an Appointment Online:

Book an Appointment

Make an appointment by clicking on the above link button.

Our InPerson operation begins Saturday, February 8, through April 12, from 9 am to 5 pm. The very last appointment will be at 3:00 pm for a timely closing.

We provide our services every Saturday 9 am - 5 pm. (The last appointment will be at 3:00 pm for a timely filing and closing process.)