SF State Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a national Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-sponsored, volunteer-based initiative that provides free tax preparation to eligible individuals, including low-income taxpayers, students, the elderly, individuals with limited English proficiency, and those with disabilities, within the VITA scope.

The SF State VITA program, co-sponsored by the Lam Family College of Business (LFCoB), the University Corporation, SF State (UCorp), United Way Bay Area (UWBA), and the IRS, has been serving the community for nearly 20 years. With 50 IRS-certified student volunteers annually, it assists over 700 clients each year, making it one of California’s largest VITA programs. The program offers support in up to 20 languages and is led by Lena Yang, Assistant Professor of Accounting at LFCoB.
 

Become an IRS-Certified Volunteer at SFSU: Gain Tax Experience and Make an Impact

No prerequisites or experience are required to join the VITA program. We provide training, technical skills, and free textbooks. Volunteers gain real-world tax experience, learn to prepare their own tax returns, and receive an IRS Certificate. Enhance your resume, expand your network, and make a positive impact on the community while gaining exposure to job opportunities!

“VITA helped me strengthen skills in research, problem-solving, and communication. The knowledge and experience gained from VITA were also influential in helping me obtain a tax internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers.”
- Najma Shaean Malik, SF State Accounting student and VITA volunteer

"The power of SF State's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is twofold: One, valuable work and service experience for students, and two, the VITA program gives back to the community in meaningful ways by generating $1 million in tax refunds to those who need it."  - Katie Hetherington, J.D., Associate Professor of Accounting at the Lam Family College of Business.

** 2025 VITA Volunteer Application is currently closed and will be reopened in early September ***

SFSU VITA Office

Free Tax Preparation for Eligible Taxpayers Within VITA Service Scope

VITA provides free tax preparation services to qualified individuals, including domestic and international students (on F or J visas), those with low incomes, the elderly, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals with disabilities, within the VITA scope.

SFSU VITA provides tax preparation services within the VITA scope only and does not offer tax consulting beyond that, accept tax documents via email, or process tax returns online.

VITA Scope of Service: VITA cannot prepare tax returns for individuals who

  1. Have an income above the annual income limit;
  2. Are married and filing separately; or
  3. Are self-employed with business expenses greater than $10,000.
  4. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdf

2025 Tax Filing Options

1. Traditional In-Person VITA (AGI Limit: $75,000/year)

  • Meet face-to-face with IRS-certified volunteers who prepare and review your tax return using IRS-approved software.

2. DIY VITA (Facilitated Self Assistance, AGI Limit: $84,000/year)

Make an Appointment: https://calendly.com/sfsuvita

Appointments are required and given priority. Walk-ins may be accepted based on site availability. Please provide 24-hour s' notice for cancellations or rescheduling. 

2025 SFSU VITA Tax Season: January 30 (Thursday) to April 15 (Tuesday)
Located in Creative Arts #134, next to the SFSU Library.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
9:30am-12:30pm
9:30am-12:30pm
9:30am-12:30pm
9:30am-12:30pm
9:30am-12:30pm
12:30pm-3:30pm
12:30pm-3:30pm
12:30pm-3:30pm
12:30pm-3:30pm
12:30pm-3:30pm
 
 
3:30pm-6:30pm
 
 
  • SFSU VITA will be closed from March 24 to March 30 for Spring Break.
  • SFSU VITA schedule may change based on university and program updates. 

Arrive 10 minutes early with all required hard-copy documents

  • Recommended to fill out the intake form ahead of time: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13614c.pdf
  • Government-issued photo ID for you and your spouse (if married).
  • Taxpayer Information:
    • Social Security cards or ITIN documents for you, your spouse, and dependents.
    • Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents.
  • Income Documents: W-2s, 1099s, and self-employment income records.
  • Additional Tax Forms: 1098s, 1095s, and other relevant forms.
  • Deductions and Credits: Records for deductions (e.g., charitable contributions) and credits.
  • Childcare Expenses: Total paid to daycare providers and their Tax ID number.
  • Direct Deposit Information: Bank account and routing numbers.
  • Previous year’s federal and state tax returns (recommended)
  • Married Filing Jointly: Both spouses must be present. If one spouse cannot attend, the other must bring all required documents and a Power of Attorney (Form 2848).

SFSU VITA: Creative Arts Building # 134, Next to SFSU Library

San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

Get Free Tax Help

Questions? Contact VITA program