To get free tax help, search the IRS VITA/TCE locator or call 800-906-9887. VITA and TCE sites offer free preparation for many basic returns, but eligibility, appointment availability, and the returns a site can handle vary locally. For self-filing, check IRS Free File; for an IRS audit or collection dispute, look for a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) instead.
Which kind of free tax help do you need?
| Option | Best fit | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| VITA | Many low-to-moderate-income taxpayers, people with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency | Free basic return preparation by trained volunteers at participating local sites |
| TCE | Particularly taxpayers age 60 and older, including people with pension or retirement-related questions | Free basic return preparation and tax counseling at participating sites |
| IRS Free File | People who prefer to prepare and file their own return | Partner software for eligible filers or fillable forms for taxpayers comfortable preparing a federal return themselves |
| Facilitated Self-Assistance | Taxpayers who want to prepare their own return with guidance | Web-based tax software with help from an IRS-certified volunteer at select VITA/TCE sites |
| Low Income Taxpayer Clinic | Eligible taxpayers with an IRS dispute, such as an audit, appeal, or collection matter | Help resolving disputes; services may be free or available for a small fee |
VITA and TCE are return-preparation programs, not a guarantee that every site can handle every tax situation. The IRS says volunteers must pass tax-law training that meets or exceeds its standards, and each prepared return receives a quality review before filing. Site services depend on local volunteer expertise.
Do you qualify for VITA or TCE?
VITA eligibility
The IRS does not set one income ceiling for the VITA program as a whole. It says many sites generally serve people who make about $70,244 or less, but individual sites can set their own limits. Treat that amount as guidance, not a universal cutoff; confirm the rule with the site you plan to use. People with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English proficiency are also among VITA’s typical users.
TCE eligibility
TCE particularly serves people age 60 and older and emphasizes tax questions related to pensions and retirement. Being within TCE’s age focus does not guarantee a particular site can prepare your return or has an appointment available, so check its service list and schedule.
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Returns that may need a different option
Volunteer expertise varies by location. Before booking, describe any complex income, business activity, rental property, or other unusual circumstances and ask whether the site can help. If your return is outside its scope, ask whether another local site offers the service or consider a different filing option rather than assuming a volunteer can handle it.
How to find a free tax preparation site
- Use the IRS VITA/TCE locator or call 800-906-9887 to look for a nearby site. IRS Topic 101 also identifies Publication 5136 and the IRS app as ways to locate help.
- If you are looking for TCE, use the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide locator or call 888-227-7669. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide operates most TCE sites.
- Contact the site to confirm that it is open for the relevant filing season, whether you need an appointment, what returns it handles, and any local eligibility rules. The IRS says its locator is updated regularly from February through April; an entry does not guarantee current off-season hours.
- Review Publication 3676-B and the IRS what-to-bring instructions. Then confirm directly with the selected site what documents it requires for your situation.
- Use a site listed through an official IRS or program-partner locator, and follow the site’s process for sharing tax documents and identity information.
What should you bring to a free tax preparation appointment?
Check the IRS what-to-bring instructions and ask your chosen site for its own checklist before you go; requirements can depend on your return and the site’s process. Confirm what identity and tax records it needs, and how it wants you to provide them. Bring only what the site requests and use its instructions for sharing sensitive documents.
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Can you file taxes for free yourself?
IRS Free File is a no-cost self-filing option for eligible taxpayers. For filing season 2026, which covered 2025 tax-year returns, the IRS said taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less could use Free File Guided Tax at no cost. The IRS listed eight trusted partners that season; individual partners could apply additional requirements, including income, age, state residency, or military status. The IRS also offered Free File Fillable Forms for people comfortable preparing their own federal returns. These thresholds and partner counts are specific to filing season 2026, so check the IRS Free File page for the season in which you plan to file.
Some VITA/TCE locations also offer Facilitated Self-Assistance: you prepare basic federal and state returns using web-based software while an IRS-certified volunteer guides you. It is available only at select listed sites, so ask the site whether it offers this option.
When to use a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
A Low Income Taxpayer Clinic is the better starting point when you need help with an IRS dispute, such as an audit, an appeal, or a collection case. LITCs are independent from the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They help eligible taxpayers and may provide services at no cost or for a small fee; they are not the default choice for routine annual return preparation. Find a clinic through the IRS Low Income Taxpayer Clinics directory.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the 2026 filing-season figures
The IRS’s figures are season-specific. For tax year 2025 returns filed in 2026, it reported an $89,000 adjusted-gross-income threshold for Free File Guided Tax and eight Free File partners. It also said most complete and accurate electronically filed returns using direct deposit are issued within 21 days, while some take longer; that is not a refund guarantee. The IRS reported $53 million in 2026 VITA/TCE grant awards, including awards to 48 TCE applicants and 315 VITA applicants. Those are grant-program figures, not counts of all sites, volunteers, or returns.
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