File For Free
Save the Fee. File for Free.
Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals and families with a household income of $60,000 a year or less. Our team can help you obtain all eligible tax credits and deductions, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Education Tax Credits and Child Care tax deductions.
There are now three easy ways to file for free through VITA:
In-Person
IRS-trained and -certified volunteers serve at over 40 locations across the Upstate to help participants receive all eligible tax credits and deductions. Clients arrive to their appointment, complete intake forms and provide necessary documentation to the volunteer tax preparer. Once the return is complete, another certified volunteer will review the return for accuracy then the entire return will be reviewed with the client.
With direct deposit, refunds typically arrive within 7–21 days when filed electronically.
To schedule your VITA appointment, dial 2-1-1 or call toll-free at 1-866-892-9211.
Click here to learn what you should bring to your VITA appointment.
MyFreeTaxes
United Way’s MyFreeTaxes is the only free, national, online tax filing program offered by a nonprofit. It is completely free for federal and state returns, optimized for all devices (desktop, tablet or mobile) and easy to use — most filers complete their taxes in less than an hour.
MyFreeTaxes is available to those with a household income of less than $73,000 a year. If you need support, you can contact their helpline at (866) 698-9435 or visit myfreetaxes.com/support.
MyFreeTaxes is also now available in Spanish at myfreetaxes.com/es.
GetYourRefund.org
In partnership with CodeForAmerica, this 100 percent virtual option provides a way for clients to connect with free VITA services from anywhere in the country. Visit GetYourRefund.org to answer a series of simple questions and securely upload your tax documents. The VITA team will remotely prepare the return, contact taxpayers to review the return and file with taxpayer consent.
This service is available for those with a household income of less than $60,000 a year.
VITA Materials
If you would like printed copies of any of these materials, please email VITA@unitedwaygc.org.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Please bring the following documents to complete your tax return. Failure to bring all documents to your appointment may delay completion of your tax return.
- Picture ID for individual and spouse.
- Original Social Security card for all persons to be listed on tax return or an ITIN card for those without Social Security card.
- Birth dates of all persons listed on tax return.
- All wage and earnings statements, for example: W-2 Form, Social Security Income (SSI), Pensions, Annuities, Unemployment Compensation, etc.
- Any interest and dividend statements (any Form 1099s).
- Copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns (if available).
- Child care provider’s Name, Federal ID or Social Security Number, and address. Also, provide the amount paid for child care.
- If you are itemizing your deductions, please bring a summary listing of your deductions and supporting details/receipts.
- If you are taking college courses to further your education for a job, and you paid the tuition, please bring the tuition receipt and any financial aid or student loan statements.
- If you want to have your refund deposited into your checking or savings account, bring your account details (a check assigned to the specific account).
- Forms 1095-A, Health Insurance Statement, if you had coverage through the Marketplace or HealthCare.gov.