Upcoming tax season: Appointment scheduling opens in late January — check back then to book online. In the meantime, explore free self-filing resources.
Free tax help, built by UMBC students
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free, reliable tax-return preparation to eligible individuals and families each spring — prepared by trained, IRS-certified volunteers.
Eleven seasons of free tax help
3,900+
Free tax returns filed since 2016
$4.6M+
In federal refunds returned to our community
$690K+
Saved in tax-preparation fees
Cumulative program totals across eleven seasons since 2016.
Trained volunteers. Certified preparation. No cost.
VITA is an IRS-sponsored program that provides free tax-return preparation to eligible individuals and families. UMBC VITA recruits and trains student volunteers who complete rigorous preparation and pass annual IRS certification exams before ever sitting down with a client.
How it works
1. Check eligibility
Confirm your income and situation are within the IRS scope for free preparation.
2. Book an appointment
Reserve a spot — appointments are required, and walk-ins can’t be accepted.
3. Gather documents
Bring your ID, Social Security cards, and income forms for an accurate return.
4. Meet a volunteer
A certified preparer completes your return with you — free of charge.
A quick eligibility snapshot
We can usually help if…
- Your household income is within the IRS limit — the IRS updates this limit each year and most recently was $69,000. See the current number on IRS.gov.
- You have a Social Security card — for everyone on the return.
- You can book an appointment — required, no walk-ins.
We can’t prepare returns that…
- Involve F, J, M, or Q visas — UMBC VITA isn’t certified for these returns. International students and scholars can get free help from our partner NRVTAP.
- Include out-of-scope items — business losses, virtual currency, or rental income.
Free tax help filing returns for the upcoming tax season
Appointment scheduling opens in late January — check back then and make your appointment online! In the meantime, you can prepare and file your own return for free.
Help keep tax help free
Your gift helps us train student volunteers, reach more families, and return refunds and credits to our community — at no cost to the people we serve.
Follow along
Season dates, eligibility updates, and free filing reminders go out on Instagram first.
Questions? Email VITA@umbc.edu or call 443-612-4829.