The Internal Revenue Service has free tax preparation services available for local residents under a certain income threshold.
Until April 15, Bexar County taxpayers whose households earned up to $60,000 can visit 13 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sites. The program has prepared taxes for 12,600 area residents since Jan. 15 and has saved filers $2.8 million in tax preparation fees.
The IRS also has a new option for people in 12 states, including Texas, to file taxes online for free directly to the IRS. To file free with the IRS Direct File, click here.
So far, Bexar County residents have filed for $20.74 million in tax refunds through the program, according to the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, which partners with the City of San Antonio and Bexar County to execute the program, while Catholic Charities of San Antonio organizes volunteers to help.
The program has prepared taxes for free for years, but most recently, it increased the income limit for people eligible for the free tax service.
“The last couple of years, it’s been families bringing $55,000 and below, and this year we went up to $60,000,” said Stephanie Smith, director of the Strong Individuals and Families program for the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, because of feedback from folks who were “in that window.”
“We wanted to make sure we could get more people in the door that would be eligible and qualify. It was an easy decision, because the more we can serve, the better,” she said.
Professional tax preparers at each VITA site are certified and have gone through extensive training, just like anyone working at a tax preparation office, Smith said. Each person gets an individualized, personal experience.
VITA tax assistance has been around for at least 20 years, Smith said, earning the community’s trust.
On Monday, a line of people waited outside the VITA clinic at the Guadalupe Community Center to drop paperwork off. Local resident Daniel Pastoriza made his way toward the clinic, paperwork in hand.
He said he heard about the clinic last year, when he was being charged more for his tax preparation than the return he would get back, he said.
“I had to find a place where they do it for free,” he said. “A couple friends told me about VITA. I looked it up, then ever since then, came here. … They help you out here,” Pastoriza said.
Kim LeFrance arrived shortly after the clinic opened for her volunteer shift.
During the pandemic, LeFrance began to use her experience as a former property claims adjuster and home loan processor to prepare San Antonians’ taxes through the program.
“It works just as well as the in-person,” she said. “And it’s processed fairly quickly.”
Before going, taxpayers should make sure to take physical copies of:
- Tax documents: Any relevant W-2, Letter 6419, 1099 forms for 2023, or for prior years, if applicable. (Free printing available at San Antonio public libraries. For a list, click here).
- Original photo ID
- Original Social Security card or tax identification number (ITIN). Help for ITIN filers is available only at the Guadalupe Community Center
If filing jointly, both spouses must be present.
Be prepared for a wait, Smith said. Lines tend to pick up near the program deadline, but some sites offer free tax filing year-round.
Through other methods, tax returns can cost up to $200 to file, Smith said, so putting fees back in families’ pockets, as well as the refunds, is “huge,” Smith said. “More people are aware of it, but there are still people who [pay]. The more we can get the word out, the better.”
Electronically submitted tax returns get to the IRS “as fast as it does for someone who goes to a paid preparer,” Smith said.
But if you don’t want to wait, for the first time the program is also offering refund anticipation loans for participants in the filing program at three locations: the Guadalupe Community Center, The Neighborhood Place and St. Philip’s College.
Don’t have time to file your taxes all at once? Drop your documents off, then return to review them with your tax preparer at Palo Alto College and The Neighborhood Place.
VITA mobile teams for groups are available at places like churches, schools and other community organizations. To request a VITA mobile team to visit a specific location, contact Catholic Charities of San Antonio at aferdin@ccaosa.org.
To see the IRS full list of VITA free tax preparation sites in Bexar County, click here.
AARP members of any age looking for free tax preparation can also go to an AARP Foundation tax assitance site until April 15. There is no annual income limit, but returns can only be filed for individuals, not families. For a list of sites across Bexar County and their hours, click here.
