Program offers free tax assistance to qualifying residents

Published on January 23, 2019

Do you want to maximize your tax refund, but aren’t sure where to start?

For the third year, Placer County Health and Human Services will provide free tax assistance to low-income individuals and families, in cooperation with the IRS and United Way, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

VITA helps wage earners with the highest need receive their earned income tax credit, a refundable federal and state income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families.

Last year, VITA filings netted Placer County residents more than a half million dollars in returns.

“It’s helping families keep their hard-earned money and putting that money back into our local economy,” said Human Services Director Amanda Sharp.

Free tax preparation assistance by trained volunteers will be available to qualifying individuals and families who earned $60,000 or less in 2018. Free online tax assistance is also available for individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 or less in 2018 at myfreetaxes.com .

The VITA program will run at these locations:

Placer County Human Services
1000 Sunset Boulevard
Rocklin, CA 95765
Open Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jan. 29 - March 29

**closed Tuesday, Feb. 12 for holiday.

Placer County Human Services
1919 Grass Valley Highway Ste. 190 
Auburn, CA 95603
Open Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jan. 31 - March 28

For those unable to attend, the AARP runs a similar program in other locations throughout the county (including North Tahoe). To learn more visit their website here . Sierra College in Rocklin will also offer tax preparation on Saturdays between March 9 and April 5. Visit their website  for more information. 

Visit yourlocalunitedway.org/vita  to see available dates (starting in January and running through March) and make an appointment starting Jan. 22 by calling 800-500-4931.