Kelly Phillips Erb, a Philadelphia-area tax lawyer, traveled to rural Alaska to prepare tax returns for free. The trip was an unusual deployment, not a typical VITA volunteer shift—but its purpose is available much closer to home: local volunteers help people access free tax-preparation services through the IRS’s VITA and TCE programs.
You can explore a local role without prior tax experience. The IRS connects prospective volunteers with sponsoring organizations, which provide training and place volunteers in roles ranging from tax preparation to greeting and IT support.
Why Erb went to rural Alaska
Erb says her trip took place the year before her October 1, 2026 article. The Alaska Business Development Center organized the deployment in partnership with the American Bar Association Section of Taxation and the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The team traveled from Anchorage to rural villages to prepare returns at no cost. Erb summed up the work as “Preparing tax returns. For free.” Read Erb’s account.
Getting the work there took more than tax knowledge. Erb describes bringing laptops, peripherals, intake and tax forms, and other supplies in a tote weighing about 50 pounds. The team used single-engine aircraft, pickup trucks and, at times, snowmobiles to reach communities. Some days ran 10 to 12 hours. Those are details of this particular trip, not standard requirements for local VITA volunteers.
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The need was tangible. Erb recounts one Kotzebue taxpayer who had previously spent nearly $2,000 to get a simple return prepared, including about $500 for the preparer and additional travel and lodging in Anchorage. The article also describes limited road access, unreliable mail and spotty internet in some remote communities. These are reported examples, not national averages.
Erb’s article attributes to the IRS more than 84,500 VITA and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteers helping taxpayers file nearly 2.9 million returns at no cost in 2026. It also says community organizations hosted about 9,000 VITA and TCE sites in the preceding filing season. Those figures are attributed to Erb’s account and should be read in that context.
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What VITA and TCE volunteers do
VITA: free basic tax-return help
VITA offers free basic tax-return assistance for low-to-moderate-income taxpayers. The IRS also identifies people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency among those served. Eligibility and income limits can vary by site, so check with the local sponsoring organization before assuming a particular return qualifies. See the IRS’s VITA information.
TCE: tax help for older taxpayers
TCE focuses on people aged 60 and older, including questions related to retirement. The IRS says AARP participates in the program. Read the IRS overview of volunteer tax assistance.
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Preparation is only one role
Volunteers may prepare returns, but organizations also need greeters, marketing specialists and IT troubleshooters. The IRS says it provides free specialized training and does not require previous experience to explore volunteering. Not every role or schedule is available at every site.
What tax-preparation volunteering requires
Preparing a return is a responsibility, not just form-filling. IRS Publication 5683, revised October 2025, describes a process that includes intake and an interview, confirming the taxpayer’s information, checking that the return fits both the program and the volunteer’s certification scope, and having the completed return reviewed for quality. Consult Publication 5683.
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- Work within your certification. A return must fit the volunteer’s certification level and the program’s scope.
- Clarify incomplete or inconsistent information. Volunteers are expected to exercise due diligence and engage the taxpayer to confirm details.
- Ask for help when needed. If you are uncomfortable with an issue, stop and consult a site coordinator.
- Refer work that is out of scope. Do not prepare a return beyond the program’s scope or your certification; the taxpayer should be referred appropriately.
How to find a volunteer opportunity
- Submit the IRS VITA/TCE volunteer and partner sign-up form. The IRS shares the inquiry with sponsoring organizations in your area so they can follow up. Start with the IRS volunteer page.
- Discuss local options with the sponsoring organization. Ask which program, roles, locations and schedules are available, and whether the opportunity is in person or virtual. Availability varies by community.
- Complete the organization’s training and placement process. The IRS says training is available online and in classrooms. If you prepare returns, the organization will guide you on the training and certification appropriate to your role.
- Volunteer at an assigned location or in an offered format. Many sites offer evening or weekend hours, but schedules are set locally.
An IRS recruitment announcement dated October 1, 2025, encouraged sign-ups from October through January for that upcoming filing season and said later inquiries would be retained for the next season. That timing applied to the 2025 announcement; check the current IRS volunteer page for current recruitment dates. Read the announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does volunteering mean traveling far?
No. Erb’s Alaska deployment involved long-distance travel and difficult logistics because it served remote villages. Most people can explore opportunities through nearby sponsoring organizations; the IRS’s volunteer sign-up route is designed to connect you with organizations in your area. Local roles, schedules and formats differ, and the IRS does not promise that every community offers virtual or non-preparation positions.
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