VITA
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
VITA provides free tax filing for households with incomes of $57,000 or less. Trained volunteers assist you to file your federal and state taxes and claim the benefits you qualify for, like a credit for having a child, donating to charity, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you don’t qualify for VITA, another free filing option is MyFreeTaxes.com.
Contact your local VITA site to find out if you qualify and make an appointment. If your local site is no longer accepting appointments, read on to learn more about MyFreeTaxes.com.
Visit PA 211’s listings for VITA sites across PA – just enter your zip code to find a location near you. Follow the instructions to get in contact with your local site!
MyFreeTaxes.com
If your household doesn’t qualiify for VITA, or if your nearest VITA location no longer has appointments, another free tax filing option is MyFreeTaxes.com. This self-serve website has no income limit, and is free for simple returns, including Schedule C for self-employed people.
You can file your taxes using MyFreeTaxes.com from your mobile device or computer. The platform guides you through the process to make sure you get your maximum refund. Most filers complete their taxes in under one hour and save an average of $200 in fees by using MyFreeTaxes instead of a paid tax preparer.
Earned Income
Tax Credit
Working people earning under a certain limit may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which averages over $2,000 per person in PA. Learn more about the EITC to see if you qualify.
Child
Tax Credit
People with at least one child may qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which can total up to $3,600 per child. Learn more about the CTC to see if you qualify, and find out how to apply.
Charitable Tax
Deduction
Federal stimulus bills provide a tax deduction for charitable donations made in the 2020 and 2021 tax years. The tax deduction is for up to $300 for single filers, and $600 for joint filers.
