IRS-Sponsored · Always Free
Free tax help, built by UMBC students.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free, reliable tax-return preparation to eligible individuals and families each spring — prepared by trained, IRS-certified volunteers.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Our impact
Eleven seasons of free tax help
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3,900+Free tax returns filed since 2016
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$4.6M+In federal refunds returned to our community
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$690K+Saved in tax-preparation fees
Cumulative program totals across eleven seasons since 2016.
What is VITA?
Trained volunteers. Certified preparation. No cost.
VITA is an IRS-sponsored program that provides free tax-return preparation to eligible individuals and families. UMBC VITA recruits and trains student volunteers who complete rigorous preparation and pass annual IRS certification exams before ever sitting down with a client.
How it works
Getting your taxes done, step by step
In a normal season, here's what the free tax-prep process looks like from start to finish.
Check eligibility
Confirm your household income and situation are within the IRS scope for free preparation.
Book an appointment
Reserve a spot — appointments are required, and walk-ins can't be accepted.
Gather your documents
Bring your ID, Social Security cards, and income forms so we can complete an accurate return.
Meet a volunteer
A certified preparer completes your return with you and answers your questions — free of charge.
Who we can help
A quick eligibility snapshot
We can usually help if…
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Your household income is within the IRS limitThe IRS updates this limit each year and most recently was $69,000. See the current number on IRS.gov.
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You have a Social Security cardRequired for everyone listed on the return.
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You can book an appointmentAppointments are required — no walk-ins.
We can't prepare returns that…
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Involve F, J, M, or Q visasUMBC VITA isn't certified for these returns. International students and scholars can get free help from our partner NRVTAP.
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Include out-of-scope itemsBusiness losses, virtual currency, or rental income.
Coming soon
Free tax help filing returns for the upcoming tax season
Appointment scheduling opens in late January — check back then and make your appointment online! In the meantime, you can prepare and file your own return for free.
Get involved
Give a few Saturdays. Change your community.
No tax experience required. We train every volunteer and support you through IRS certification. It's real-world experience, meaningful service, and a résumé line that stands out.
Support us
Help keep tax help free
Your gift helps us train student volunteers, reach more families, and return refunds and credits to our community — at no cost to the people we serve.