Earn it! Keep it! $ave It!

United Way of the Wine Country’s Free Tax Support Has Helped Local Families and Individuals Get Back More Than $100M in Tax Refunds.

Until next tax season, free tax services are still offered in Sonoma County, Calistoga, and St. Helena

SANTA ROSA:

UNITED WAY OF THE WINE COUNTRY
United Way is still offering a drop-off ONLY free tax service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm for filers who make less than $79,000 combined household income. No services on other days. Copies of all income and other tax documents along with state issued ID are required as well. Tax preparation Intake and survey forms to be filled out at the site when dropping off for preparation. Taxes will be prepared, and quality reviewed, at which point the client will be called for verbal e-filing consent. Clients will be told to return during site hours to retrieve a copy of their filed tax return and all income documents. Must show ID when picking up.
English and Spanish speaking appointments available.
Address:  975 Corporate Center Parkway Suite 160 Santa Rosa (Ring doorbell)

AARP Summer and Fall Clinics (May-October)
AARP offers free tax preparation to clients with no income limit. Taxpayers needing an appointment must call 707-582-0251 to leave a message and book an appointment. Someone will call them back.
If a tax client has a question or has gotten a notice from the IRS or FTB and wants help, they can dial: 707-327-2401.
No drop-in/drop-off appointments. English only. No Spanish appointments.
Address: The Franklin Park Clubhouse, 2095 Franklin Avenue, Santa Rosa

CALISTOGA:

UPVALLEY FAMILY SERVICES
Address: 1500 Cedar Street, Calistoga, CA 94515
Phone: (707) 965-5010 (will be forwarded to Karen Garcia at ext. 311)
Fax: (707) 942-9382
Office hours | Horas de oficina
Monday/Lunes 10:00 – 12:00 | 12:30 – 5:00
Tuesday/Martes – Friday/Viernes 8:30am – 12:00pm and 12:30pm – 5:00pm

ST HELENA:

UPVALLEY FAMILY SERVICES
Address: 1440 Spring Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
Phone: (707) 965-5010 (will be forwarded to Karen Garcia at ext. 311)
Fax: (707) 963-2153
Office hours | Horas de oficina
Monday/Lunes 10:00 – 12:00 | 12:30 – 5:00
Tuesday/Martes – Friday/Viernes 8:30am – 12:00pm and 12:30pm – 5:00pm

FREE 2023-2024 Tax Preparation

  • FREE for households earning around $79,000 or less

  • FREE support provided by advanced certified tax preparers

  • FREE in-person or drop-off tax preparation available, at select sites

  • FREE ITIN assistance and support

  • U.S. CITIZENSHIP NOT REQUIRED

Services NOT Available for:

  • Married filing separate status

  • Self-employment income, if any of the following apply:

    • Have employees

    • Carry over inventory

    • Expenses greater than $35,000

    • Have a net loss for the year

    • Have business use of home expenses

  • Adoption of children

  • Net Operating Loss [NOS] from prior years

  • Farm or foreign income

  • SEP, SIMPLE and other qualified plans

  • Clergy income

  • Bankruptcy

  • PG&E Settlement money

IN JANUARY 2025 - CALL to Make a Free Tax Appointment:

(Once you have possession of all required tax documentation*)

  • Sonoma: Dial 2-1-1 OR 800-325-9604

For all other counties, please call the phone numbers below. If your call goes to voicemail, please leave a message with your name and phone number.

  • Mendocino/Lake: 707-467-3236 (North Coast Opportunities)

  • Willits: 707-456-9418 (Nuestra Allianza de Willits)

  • Humboldt & Del Norte: 707-443-9747 (Humboldt Senior Resource Center)

*Clients with incomplete paperwork at time of appointment cannot be filed.

Possible Special Credits:

You must file taxes to qualify for State and Federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and other valuable credits available to working families and individuals:

  • Did you pay for childcare/ dependent care?
    If so, bring information about the provider, including address, phone number, and EIN or Social Security number, if an individual

  • Do you own a home?
    If so, bring proof of mortgage interest and property tax information

  • Do you own a car and use it for work?
    If itemizing expenses instead of the standard deduction, bring proof of DMV tax expenses

  • Did you pay for education expenses, including tuition, fees, books, etc. for a student enrolled at an eligible educational institution?
    If so, bring Form 1098-T along with a list of expenses and associated receipts.

Bring to Your Appointment:

  • Original photo ID for taxpayer and spouse

  • Social Security card or ITIN for each person on tax return – copies accepted

  • Copy of previous year’s tax return (if you filed and if available)

  • All tax forms including W-2, 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, or records of cash earned for all jobs – see full list of tax forms below

  • Checking and/or savings account information including routing numbers for direct deposit refunds

  • Information about childcare provider(s) –including name, address, ID number, and phone number

  • Records of charitable contributions – if you itemize, bring receipts for all cash and non-cash donations

  • Clients with insufficient or missing paperwork at appointment may be turned away and asked to reschedule for when they have all paperwork.

List of Tax Forms

This list includes all possible tax forms. For your tax filing appointment, only bring the forms you receive for the 2023 tax year.

NOTE: Eligible filers may also receive FREE assistance filing taxes for Tax Years 2021 and 2022.To do so, filers must bring income documents for each year.

  • W2 (salary income)

  • 1099-NEC (wages and pay)

  • 1099-MISC (wages and pay)

  • 1098 (mortgage interest)

  • SSA-1099 (social security)

  • 1098-T (tuition statement; mailed to students OR found in student portal)

  • 1099-INT (savings interest)

  • 1099-G (unemployment benefits)

  • 1099R (pension and annuity)

  • 2023 unemployment documents

Volunteers Wanted

For the 2023 tax season, the majority of our volunteer activities will be conducted face-to-face at a tax site. Limited remote volunteer opportunities may also be available at some sites. All in-person volunteers will be required to wear a face mask, regardless of vaccination status. We will also continue using social distancing and sanitizing protocols at the tax sites. More information will be provided to volunteers upon registration and at pre-season orientation sessions held at each tax site prior to opening!

  • Tax Preparer: Prepare income tax returns using IRS- issued TaxSlayer Pro Online software, communicate with clients regarding any tax documents that are missing, quality review the work of other volunteers (if experienced.) All tax returns prepared receive a quality review and is then e-filed only by your Site Coordinator; you simply help put tax information into TaxSlayer for the client! Help filers learn about ways to save and stretch their refunds, provide referrals to other services. Must be a U.S. citizen.

  • Intake Coordinator (Greeter): Help check in clients upon arrival, help filers complete the required intake process paperwork, manage appointment schedules, answer general questions about our process and services. Must be a U.S. citizen.

  • Interpreter (Spanish): Assist in translating languages for both volunteers and filers, as well as Site Coordinators. Does NOT have to be a U.S. citizen.

SKILLS REQUIRED: WE’LL PROVIDE ALL THE FREE TRAINING YOU NEED!

  • Experience using computers (beyond email, comfortable with software, etc.)

  • Time to commit a minimum of 3 hours per week from late-January through April (you can volunteer at multiple sites if you want to or in various volunteer roles as well)

  • Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, in English or Spanish.

VITA is a meaningful, unique experience for the volunteers and filers. As a volunteer, you’ll:

  • Build your resume by certifying as an IRS certified Tax Preparation volunteer, or Intake Coordinator, or Site Coordinator 

  • Empower our hard-working, low-to-moderate income earning neighbors to access important tax refunds at no cost while learning about other resources to help them thrive financially!

  • Learn valuable, lifelong skills while making great friends and helping a local non-profit serve those who need it the most in the community!

If you have any questions while completing the Volunteer Registration, please feel free to email UWWC.CustomerService@unitedwaywinecountry.org, or call her at United Way of the Wine Country between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday, at (707) 528.4485.