Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is an IRS program that offers free tax preparation for families and individuals with income of $60,000 or less. The United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg sponsors the VITA program in the Richmond region.

The University of Richmond operates a VITA site in downtown Richmond. For the 2023 tax season, we are providing free tax preparation at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. University of Richmond students become IRS-certified volunteers and may help with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.

Student who are interested in becoming a volunteer for this program, can register for one of the following half-unit courses (learn more in the first tab below):

  • VITA I: CRN 21327 (no pre-requisite)
  • VITA II: CRN 21328 (must have taken VITA I)
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  • Half-Unit VITA Course

    The Robins School of Business offers a half-unit course for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. You do not need to be a business student or any prerequisites to register for this course. There are two courses offered:

    • VITA I: CRN 21327 (no prerequisites)
    • VITA II: CRN 21328 (must have taken VITA I)

    All students enrolled in the course must attend one of the training weekends:

    • Friday, January 20th, 12-3pm & Saturday, January 21st, 9am-4pm; OR
    • Friday, January 27th, 12-3pm & Saturday, January 28th, 9am-4pm

    Students must also complete 20 service hours throughout the semester at UR’s downtown tax site or one of the other 14 tax sites in Richmond. And write two reflection papers.

    VITA II students will also be trained on-site as Quality Reviewers and provide support for newer volunteers.

    Student Volunteering Outside of the VITA Course

    Students may also become a volunteer for the VITA program without registering for the half-unit course, as a tax preparer or in a non-tax role (Greeter/Screener). Students who volunteer are not required to volunteer a certain number of hours or complete reflection papers, however it is encouraged that students volunteer for about one shift a week. You can sign-up for these positions below:

  • Am I eligible for free tax services?

    The IRS’s Volunteer Inomce and Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation for qualified individuals, including:

    • People who generally make $60,000 or less
    • Persons with disabilities; and
    • Limited English-speaking taxpayers

    In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

  • Tax Site Hours of Operation

    The University of Richmond’s tax site is located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 815 E Grace St. Richmond, VA 23219. Our hours of operation are:

    • Tuesdays: 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. (closed March 7)
    • Thursdays: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. (closed March 9)
    • Fridays: 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. (closed March 3, March 10, March 17, April 7)
    • Select Saturdays ( Feb. 18, March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15): 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

      We also have limited capacity to accept walk-ins on a first come, first served basis. Appointments are highly recommended. Make an appointment HERE.

     

    Find A Tax Site

    You can search for another local VITA site on United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg’s website here.

    You can also search for VITA sites using the IRS website here.
  • Getting to the Tax Site

    University of Richmond’s VITA site is located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 815 E Grace St. Richmond, VA 23219. The entrace is on 9th St., between Grace St. and Franklin St. 

    There is limited free parking in St. Paul’s parking garage for tax clients. Parking is available on a first come, first serve basis. Please let the attendant know that you are visiting the tax site.

    The nearest bus stops are:

    • Pulse Bus stop at Government Center
    • Bus #5 to 9th & Main
    • Bus #14 to 5th & Grace

    For University of Richmond student volunteers, please contact the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement for free transportation to the tax site.

  • Make an Appointment

    You can make an appointment at University of Richmond’s downtown tax site here:

    Make a Tax Appointment Here

    You can also contact urdvita@gmail.com or leave a message with (804) 505-4906 for help in making an appointment.

    We also have limited capacity to accept walk-ins on a first come, first served basis. Appointments are highly recommended.

  • Faculty, Staff & Students Tax Help

    The CCE is hosting a free on-campus tax clinic for University of Richmond faculty, staff, and students who have a household income of $60,000 or less.. Our tax clinic is operating on Friday, March 17 from 8am - 11am & 2pm - 5pm. We are not qualified to prepare foreign student returns. 

    Sign Up for an On-Campus Appointment

    If you are filing a joint return, your spouse must also be present for us to electronically file. 

  • Foreign Student Tax Returns

    There is one VITA site in the Richmond region that is qualified to prepare foreign student tax returns. Once we recieve information about the dates and times for that tax site, we will share it here.

    Unfortunately, the University of Richmond’s tax site isn’t qualified to prepare foreign student returns.