Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Para información en español - HAGA CLIC AQUÍ

What is VITA?

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a national program staffed by local volunteers to provide free preparation and electronic filing of tax returns. It’s an important service to thousands of individuals and families in Racine County with low-to-moderate incomes who are eligible for tax credits. Our IRS-certified volunteers help to take the stress and confusion out of tax season and save clients on average $200 per tax return.

You may qualify for VITA services if:

  • You do not file Married Filing Separate.
  • You do not have rental or farm income.
  • You do not file a return for a state other than Wisconsin.

Taxpayers have a choice of services: in-person full-service at one of our three weekly sites, in-person drop-off at our weekly drop-off site, or 100% virtual. All in-person services require an appointment. We offer appointments for clients requiring services in Spanish as well as for clients filing only for Wisconsin Homestead. Please choose the service that works best for you.

 

Weekly site locations:

Workforce Solutions - 1717 Taylor Ave

Mondays 1-7 pm - Full-service and Homestead only appointments available

Wednesdays noon-4 pm - Drop-off and Homestead only appointments available

 

Racine Public Library - 75 7th St, Second floor Community Room

Tuesdays 4-7 pm - Full-service and Homestead only appointments available

Thursdays 10 am-2 pm - Full-service and Homestead only appointments available

 

Case High School - 7345 Washington Ave, Library (use theater entrance)

Saturdays 9 am-1 pm - Full-service appointments available

 
Appointment options available:

Tax preparation in English and Spanish - These appointments offer full-service tax preparation and filing of both federal and Wisconsin state returns. Clients who prefer services in Spanish should select "Tax preparation - Spanish" when scheduling an appointment.

Homestead preparation in English and Spanish - These appointments offer in-person preparation of homestead only returns for clients who do not file a federal return and only file for Wisconsin homestead credit. To qualify for homestead, your total income for the filing year needs to be under $24,680. Filers will be required to have their property tax bill, completed and correct rent certificate, or receipts showing payment of rent to claim homestead. Clients who are scheduling an appointment for homestead only filing, should select "Homestead - English" or "Homestead - Spanish" when scheduling an appointment. 

Drop-off - For clients who are short on time, drop-off appointments are available on Wednesdays at Workforce Solutions. During the 30-minute appointment, clients will complete necessary paperwork and be interviewed to ensure accurate tax preparation. Completed returns will be available for pick-up in one week. Pick-up involves reviewing and signing the return and takes about 5-10 minutes. Clients wishing to schedule a drop-off appointment should select "Drop-off - English" or "Drop-off - Spanish" when scheduling an appointment. Your pick-up appointment will be scheduled during your drop-off appointment.

Button with "Schedule VITA appointment"

Other filing options

GetYourRefund allows you to submit your tax information securely online to our local volunteers. Our volunteers will then interview you by phone and complete your tax return for you. You will receive an electronic copy of your finished return to review and electronically sign before we e-file for you. See below for the link to start the process.

MyFreeTaxes allows taxpayers access to FREE TaxSlayer software to prepare and file their own federal and state returns for free. This is a great option for clients who typically pay for software to file on their own taxes or are out of scope for the VITA program. Click on the DIY option below to be directed to MyFreeTaxes.

 

Who qualifies?

VITA services a variety of taxpayers. The service that fits your needs best, depends on your household income and tax situation. See below for a listing of services and the type of client each service fits best.

 

 

 

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EITC is a refundable credit – that means if you qualify and claim it, you could pay less in taxes or get a bigger #IRS refund. Check for eligibility today at www.irs.gov/eitcassistant.

How It Works

What You Need

Use this calculator to find out:

  • If you're eligible for the EITC
  • If you have any qualifying children or relatives
  • The estimated amount of your credit
  • Your filing status

 

  • Income statements such as W-2s, 1099s  
  • Documents showing taxes withheld or money paid to you 
  • Any expenses or adjustments to your income

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Two Case High School students preparing a tax return for a client.

CLICK HERE to schedule your free in-person tax service appointment with VITA.


In-person appointments are available for full-service tax assistance for federal and state returns, including Homestead only returns. In order to implement safe social distancing, clients may be asked to wait in a separate room while their taxes are prepared.

This service is for clients who: 

  • Have an annual income of $64,000 or less
  • Are filing more than just the current tax year
    • Preparation available for 2018 through current tax year.
  • Prefer to have everything completed in an hour
  • Need extra assistance throughout the return process
  • Do not have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer to complete the virtual option
  • Are not comfortable with the virtual process

We cannot file returns with the following items due to it being out of scope for the VITA program:

  • Married Filing Separate returns 
  • Returns with landlord/rental income
  • Returns with buying or selling of cyber currency
  • Business returns (with employees, use of home as an office, inventory/stock). We can prepare simple self-employment returns.
  • State returns other than Wisconsin and non-resident Illinois returns

 

Trifold with welcome information for the VITA site.

CLICK HERE to schedule your drop-off appointment for free tax services through VITA.


30 minute in-person drop-off appointments are available for tax assistance. All intake paperwork will be completed in-person and client tax documents will be collected by a VITA team member. Tax preparation will be completed by our team of certified and vetted volunteer preparers within one week. Clients will have the option to review and sign their documents electronically or in-person once the return is completed.

For clients who:

  • Are not filing Married Filing Separate (legally married but filing separately from their spouse)
  • Do not have rental or farm income
  • Have an annual income of $64,000 or less
  • Are filing more than just the current tax year
  • Have limited time to sit for a full-service appointment
  • Need assistance with the GetYourRefund virtual option
  • Are comfortable communicating with your tax preparer by email or text
  • Are ok waiting up to a week for the return to be complete

A cell phone showing the GetYourRefund home page.

Virtual VITA - CLICK HERE to submit your information online to our local volunteers. 


Virtual VITA utilizes GetYourRefund to collect and securely store taxpayer information and documents. Taxpayers will create an account and answer a series of questions. The information will be reviewed, and the taxpayer will be contacted by a member of our virtual VITA team to review the information before the volunteer prepares the tax return. The process can take up to a week to complete once we receive all the necessary documents.

  • 100% virtual for your safety and convenience
  • Our virtual tax team will prepare your return for you
  • Easy to submit from a smart phone, tablet or computer
  • For taxpayers with an income of $66,000 or less
  • VITA cannot prepare returns that are Married Filing Separate or contain rental or farm income
  • Our program only prepares state returns for Wisconsin
  • Preparation available for tax years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
  • You will be required to interview by phone with a volunteer tax preparer
  • Return will be reviewed over the phone and electronically signed
  • Click above to start the process, answer a series of questions and securely send pictures of your documents to the United Way of Racine County VITA program

 

Photo of hands working on the computer.

CLICK HERE to request your link for free DIY TaxSlayer software.


If you want to file your own taxes, click above to receive a link to create your account with TaxSlayer to utilize our free tax software. If you used MyFreeTaxes last year, you will want to use that again this year instead of requesting the link.

Click above to start your return now using our free TaxSlayer software.

  • Income limit of $79,000
  • No form restrictions
  • 2023 Software
  • Certified volunteers available to answer your tax questions via email
  • Does not allow "state only" returns

This is the right option for you if:

  • Your return is out of scope for VITA
  • You file Married Filing Separate
  • You have cyber currency
  • You have rental income (landlord income)
  • You are only filing for the current tax year
  • You are filing a state return other than Wisconsin
  • You are comfortable using online tax services
  • You have done your own taxes in the past but want a more affordable (FREE) option
  • Your tax situation is simple/straight forward
  • You need a quick option

 

 

Any questions written on a chalk board

Have a question? Click here to visit our FAQs.


Answers to many of our commonly asked questions can be found here. If you cannot find your answer, email us at taxhelp@unitedwayracine.org

See the video below to learn more about the impact of VITA.

 

 


Want to support VITA? Your tax-deductible donation provides training, resources and support so VITA volunteers can support as many local taxpayers as possible.

A blue button that says "donate." A red button that says "volunteer."  A yellow button that says "contact."