Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The VITA program that offers no cost tax filing services to working individuals and families.

Tax Preparation Checklist

It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Use this list to help you get organized to either file your taxes online or in person. Note: If you’re getting free help filing your taxes in person, make sure you bring photo identification for all adults in your household.

Step 1: Gather your documents

• W-2s for each job held in 2023
• Social Security Card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number letter (ITIN) for you and all dependents
• 1099s showing other income (unemployment, social security, school loans, state tax refund, gambling winnings, non-employee compensation, miscellaneous income, reported to the IRS
• 1098s showing payments you’ve made (school loan interest, mortgage interest)
• 1095-A if you received credit from the healthcare.gov marketplace.
• Income/interest statements received for any savings account/investments
• Bank account numbers: a voided check or your bank or credit union’s routing number and savings or checking account number for your refund to be deposited automatically into your account
• Last year’s tax return (if you have it)

Step 2: Gather additional items to get a larger refund

• Childcare expenses: name, address, Tax ID or Social Security Number of the child care provider
• Business expenses: if you’re self-employed or have a small business
• College: loans and/or scholarships received, and bills for technical/community college or university (Forms 1098-T/1098-E)
• Educator expenses: for teaching grades K-12 (school supplies and materials used in class)
• Charitable donations: list of contributions and amounts, receipts for contributions over $250
• Vehicles: vehicle sales tax, personal property tax statement for each car you own, for self-employed or use of car for job: total miles driven for the year and/or total miles driven for work
• Homeowners: mortgage interest statement (Form 1098), real estate taxes paid, Statement of Property Tax Payable in 2023
• Retirement/IRA: amount contributed to an IRA and total value as of December 2023