The State of California Tax Board is widening its outreach for the 2025 filing season. More community partnerships, added VITA sites, and expanded training for volunteers are in place to deliver free tax help. The aim is straightforward: make it easier for taxpayers with low or moderate incomes to complete tax returns and secure refunds they might otherwise miss.
This push arrives at a time when many families are under financial strain. The board hopes to cut dependence on paid tax preparer options by expanding no-cost services. Credits such as the Young Child Tax Credit and the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) are central to the effort. For households living paycheck to paycheck, these refunds provide vital support.
The income tax assistance VITA program is at the heart of the expansion. More than 700 VITA sites operate across the state, many in familiar locations like libraries, schools, and churches. At each site, trained volunteers guide residents through filing requirements.
Over 1,400 external helpers have been trained, along with 99 FTB staff members who qualified as IRS-certified volunteers. They help people complete their tax returns, explain eligibility, and ensure credits are applied correctly.
Eligibility remains broad. Qualified individuals earning $67,000 or less in gross income can seek help. The service also covers older adults, military families, and people with disabilities. For these groups, professional filing fees can be a burden; free assistance allows them to file both federal and state tax returns without cost.
Officials said the program’s value lies not only in the money saved but also in the peace of mind it provides. Filing taxes can be daunting; knowing trained volunteers are nearby gives many residents confidence to meet deadlines without mistakes.
Technology plays a role as well. The board continues to promote Free File, a system developed with the Internal Revenue Service. It lets qualified individuals prepare and submit tax returns online at no charge. For many, this means avoiding the need to pay for commercial filing tools.
Through electronic filing (e-file), refunds can be sent straight to a checking or savings account, often arriving faster than mailed checks. The process also cuts down on common errors linked to paper forms. For families needing funds quickly, speed matters.
The agency posts tutorials and conducts information sessions to support adoption, showing residents how to use Free File. These efforts, combined with on-site income tax assistance VITA programs, expand the menu of free tax help options across the state.
Beyond VITA, the board offers federal tax returns and tax counseling tailored for older residents through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program. Regardless of income, seniors can receive free guidance from trained volunteers when filing a state tax return or a federal form.
For limited English-speaking taxpayers, multilingual staff and volunteers are available at select VITA sites. This outreach helps families who may otherwise be left out of critical programs. Instead of navigating complex forms alone, they can sit with an IRS-certified volunteer who understands both the language and the filing process.
Officials say this type of support keeps refunds in the community and reduces reliance on costly private services. It also builds long-term trust, ensuring more residents return for free tax help year after year.
The reach of these programs is clear. Last year, volunteers helped file over 272,000 tax returns, returning more than a billion dollars in combined credits to working families. By relying on community-based tax return preparation, households saved money they might have spent on commercial services.
Officials highlight that outreach is as important as the filing itself. Without clear information, many families may never claim the Young Child Tax Credit or CalEITC. Additional VITA sites, stronger promotion of Free File, and expanded tax counseling would benefit more Californians.
Residents can look up nearby VITA program locations through the FTB’s online site locator or call 211 for direct assistance. Guidance on eligibility, credits, and filing with e-file is also available online. The board and the IRS maintain updated resources for those who prefer to manage their tax returns digitally.
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