VITA FREE Tax Prep Service

In light of Monterey County’s shelter in place order in response to COVID-19, United Way Monterey County is temporarily suspending our scheduled free tax preparation services through April 7th throughout Monterey County. The US Department of the Treasury and IRS have extended the deadline to file taxes and pay any balance due on 2019 taxes until July 15th, 2020 without penalties or payments.

UWMC staff is working diligently to prepare to reopen in person VITA sites. Once these determinations have been made, the information will be posted. Check back here or follow United Way Monterey County on social media to receive the most up to date information. In the meantime, we encourage workers to file online using myfreetaxes.org or the IRS.gov/Freefile resources and to follow United Way Monterey County on social media or our website for the latest updates on the continuation of our free tax preparation services.

File Online

Don't Let FREE Tax Prep Pass You By. Make VITA Your Next Stop!

United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance service (VITA) is focused on putting more money into the pockets of working families. IRS-trained volunteers offer FREE Tax Prep for families and individuals who earned less than $56,000 in 2019! Our goal is to make sure you get your FULL refund, claim all your eligible credits, and learn to use taxes to grow your assets! You can count on VITA to provide the highest quality tax service to families, individuals, and some small business owners.

Did you make more than $56,000? You can still file your taxes for free at MyFreeTaxes.org.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tax preparer, find more information here.

Volunteer Education and College Assistance Alliance (VECAA)

In partnership with the Hartnell College, UWMC will administer the VECAA program to increase Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Dream Act applications of high school students throughout Monterey County. FAFSA not only gives students access to the aid, but it allows students and families to find a better path toward college affordability and earning a degree. However, very few high school seniors complete FAFSA applications. Between 2016 and 2018, less than half of the eligible students entering Hartnell College completed the FASFA applications. 

Application assistance will be provided by appointment only once the shelter in place order is lifted. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our Salinas office at 831-757-3206.  View the program flyer here.

California Earned Income Tax

California Earned Income Tax (CalEITC) is a cash back tax credit that puts money back into the pockets of California’s working families and individuals. In its first year, CalEITC boosted the income of about 385,000 families, who shared almost $200 million from the cash-back credit. CalEITC gives working families the chance to get ahead. Studies show that young children in households that receive the EITC do better in school, are more likely to attend college and earn more, brightening the future of the next generation. Families earning up to $25,000 can get a BONUS of up to $6,500 and keep their full refund! Even if you don’t qualify for the full $6,500, you deserve to have the credit you earned. Think of the difference this extra cash can make for you and your family. Help spread the word with our bilingual flyer or payroll stuffers.