The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through UIUC Gies School of Business is providing free tax preparation services at Salt & Light, located at 1819 Philo Road, Urbana. This service is available to eligible individuals who need assistance with filing their tax returns.

VITA is sponsored by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), and the IRS determines what type of tax returns can be done for free. Eligible people include:

• People with low to moderate income (less than $67,000 per household);
• Older adults (over age 60);
• Persons with limited English-speaking ability; and
• Persons with a disability.

You only need to qualify in one of these four categories. In addition, tax returns must be within scope; some income types the Gies VITA site cannot do. For example, non-resident alien tax returns require specialized training and the preparers in this program aren’t certified to provide this service. We are not able to prepare Form 1040-NR. 

To ensure a smooth and efficient process, individuals planning to utilize the VITA services at Salt & Light are advised to bring the necessary documentation. This includes:

• Government-issued photo ID for themselves and their spouse (e.g., driver’s license or passport). Note that both spouses must be present to file a joint return.
• Social Security cards or ITIN letters for themselves, their spouse, and all dependents.
• All tax forms received, such as Form W-2 and Form 1099.
• Form 1098-T if the individual is a college student (often downloadable from the student portal).
• Real estate taxes paid and PIN, if the individual owns their home.
• Bank routing and account number for those who would like direct deposit of their refund.
• Completed Form 13614-C Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet

The VITA program suggests completing Form 13614-C ahead of time to potentially reduce the time spent at Salt & Light. The form is available for download in English, Spanish, and French. Additional languages can be found on the IRS website by searching for Form 13614-C.

Before visiting Salt & Light, individuals should confirm their eligibility for free tax preparation by VITA preparers and check the operating hours. More information about the VITA site can be found on the Gies VITA website.

VITA is open at Salt & Light:

• Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Fridays, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

They are closed for Spring Break: Saturday, March 15th until Tuesday, March 25th.