Serving Our Community
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA ) is a student-run program at the California State University Dominguez Hills, regulated by the IRS SPEC. Our certified volunteer tax preparers provide free tax preparation services to low- to moderate-income individuals, including international students.
Free Income Tax Preparation
Income Tax Preparation
Location & Hours of Operations
Location & Hours of Operations
If you earned $67,000 or less in 2024, our professionally trained volunteers can prepare and e-file your federal and state income tax returns for free.
Location & Hours of Operations
Location & Hours of Operations
Location & Hours of Operations
The CSUDH VITA site has concluded its operations for the time being and will resume in January 2026.
Documents to bring to your VITA appointment
PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION
FORMS RELATED TO INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS
FORMS RELATED TO INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS
- Government-issued photo identification for you and your spouse (if married)
- Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) documents for you, your spouse, and dependents (if any)
- Bank account (routing and account numbers) for tax payment or refund direct deposit
- A copy of your previous year tax returns
- For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present
- Identity Protection PIN for identity theft victims (if applicable)
- For Married Filing Jointly, BOTH spouses must be present throughout the tax preparation
FORMS RELATED TO INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS
FORMS RELATED TO INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS
FORMS RELATED TO INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS
- Wage and earning statements from all employers (W-2)
- Unemployment statements (1099-G)
- 1099-Misc from State of California for those who received the California Middle-Class Tax Refund Payments
- Interest statements (1099-INT)
- Retirement Income statements (1099-R)
- Student Loan Interest Statement (1098-E)
- Information for all deductions (including charitable contributions)
- Copies of income transcripts from the IRS and state, if applicable
FORMS RELATED TO HEALTHCARE
FORMS RELATED TO TAX CREDITS
FORMS RELATED TO TAX CREDITS
- Affordable Health Care statements (1095-A, B, and C)
- Health insurance exemption certificate (if received)
- California Health Insurance Marketplace STMT (CA Form 3895)
FORMS RELATED TO TAX CREDITS
FORMS RELATED TO TAX CREDITS
FORMS RELATED TO TAX CREDITS
- Child and dependent care expenses: such as daycare providers, names, SSN or EIN
- Amounts paid in tuition and expenses for college (1098-T)
- Notice 1444-C – Taxpayers’ economic impact payment if filing 2021 tax return
- Letter 6419 – Advance Child Tax Credit Payments if filing 2021 tax return
VITA services may be limited or cannot be provided when:
FILING STATUS LIMITATIONS
FILING STATUS LIMITATIONS
FILING STATUS LIMITATIONS
- Married filing separately
- Active duty military
- Ministers and other members of clergy
- Taxpayers who may qualify for an exception to the 3-year time limit for claiming a refund
- Nonresident aliens who do not meet the green card or substantial presence test and aren’t married to a US citizen or resident alien
- Spouses who may be relieved of joint liability
- Individuals subject to the additional Medicare tax
- Individuals subject to the net investment income tax
- Taxpayers with Mortgage Credit Certificate
- Taxpayers who reside in a state with community property tax laws that allow married taxpayers to file a separate return from their spouse
- Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative - if you are filing on behalf of someone’s taxes, you must bring Form 2848 that authorizes you to represent someone before the IRS
USING FORMS
FILING STATUS LIMITATIONS
FILING STATUS LIMITATIONS
- Schedule E: Royalty Income - only simple royalties with no associated expenses
- Form 709 – United States Gift Tax Return
- Form 1127 – Application for Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Due to Undue Hardship
- Form 2210 – Underpayment of Estimated Tax
- Form 2439 – Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains
- Form 4562 – Depreciation and Amortization
- Form 5329 (Part II – IX) – Additional taxes on Qualified Plans
- Form 5405 – Repayment of the First-Time Homebuyer Credit
- Form 8582 – Passive Activity Loss Limitations
- Form 8834 – Qualified Electric Vehicle Credit
- Form 8839 – Qualified Adoption Expenses
- Form 8843 (Part IV – V) – Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition
- Form 8885 – Health Coverage Tax Credit
- Form 8908 – Energy Efficient Home Credit
- Form 8910 – Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit
- Form 8919 – Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages
- Form 8962 (Part IV – V) – Premium Tax Credit
- 1098-T: Box 4 and 6 adjustments are out of scope
FOREIGN STUDENTS
FOREIGN STUDENTS
FOREIGN STUDENTS
- Foreign students with visas other than F, J, M, or Q
- Individuals with dual-status
- Income earned from:
- 1099-MISC
- Self-employment
- Gambling
- Rent and royalty
- Form 1116 – Foreign Tax Credit
INCOME
FOREIGN STUDENTS
FOREIGN STUDENTS
- Income must be less than $67,000
- Taxpayer who receive, sell, exchange, gift or otherwise dispose of a digital asset or digital currency such as Bitcoin
- Foreign earned income
- Real estate rental property (AirBnB)
- Schedule K-1s (forms 1065, 1120S, 1041)
- Form 1099-R with Box 7 code 5, 6, 8, 9, A, E, J, K, N, P, R, T, U, or W
- Farm income (or loss)
- Taxpayers who are insolvent and had debt canceled
- Alimony/divorce agreements executed before 1985
- Taxable Roth IRA distributions
- Publicly traded partnership income
- Form 8615 – Tax for Certain Children who have Unearned Income