Free tax help

Two Types of Free Tax Help:

  1. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). This service is available for households earning up to $54,000. Learn more below.
  2. Prepare your taxes at myfreetaxes.com. This tool is offered by United Ways and H&R Block and is free if your household income is less than $62,000. Get started at www.myfreetaxes.com.

What is Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)?

VITA is a nationwide program of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service that:

  • Trains and certifies volunteers to offer free tax preparation to taxpayers with household incomes below about $54,000.
  • Works with taxpayers to fill out returns and file them electronically, all at no cost.
  • Provides quick refunds and credit payments to taxpayers through their bank accounts.

Why Should I Use a VITA Site?

When you have your tax return prepared through VITA:

  • Make an appointment easily calling United Way 2-1-1 or visiting 211ct.org, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Have your taxes prepared on an evening or a Saturday in a convenient downtown Middletown location (two locations - Middlesex United Way office and North End Action Team).
  • You will be helped by specially trained preparers to receive all refunds and credits that you've earned – like the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC.
  • Do NOT pay the preparation fees charged by commercial tax preparers – typically over $100 and often over $150.
  • Quickly receive money due to you from the IRS, without having to take out high-interest loans from a commercial tax preparer.

Learn more about getting your taxes done for free.

To make an appointment for free tax preparation, dial 2-1-1 or visit 211ct.org.

VITA Volunteers:

  • Are trained and certified in evening sessions in January run by skilled instructors.
  • Come from a variety of occupations and include retired persons.
  • Need no prior qualifications except to be comfortable using a computer. Returns are filled out and filed by computer.  
  • Work in small teams, led by trained coordinators.
  • Typically put in a shift of three to four hours once a week over 10 to 12 weeks, either in the late afternoon and evening or on a Saturday.

To volunteer, contact Nancy Meyers at nmeyers68@wesleyan.edu. 

Learn more about volunteering.

VITA is a free program offered by the federal government. Our local sites are coordinated by the Middlesex VITA Coalition, a partnership of Middlesex United Way and the North End Action Team (NEAT). The Middlesex VITA Coalition receives support from the Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS).