Free tax assistance programs need volunteers for 2025 tax season

Wisconsin’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs are ramping up for the 2025 tax season and they need volunteers.

For students, retirees, or anyone looking to serve their community, the VITA and TCE programs offer an opportunity to engage with and help people while building valuable skills. 

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of our tax preparation assistance programs,” said Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Designee David Casey. “Their dedication and expertise provide invaluable support to countless Wisconsin residents, helping them navigate the complexities of tax filing. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment to serving our communities.”

The VITA and TCE programs offer free tax preparation services to qualifying Wisconsin taxpayers. Site coordinators and tax counselors are needed for both programs.

Volunteering

Anyone can volunteer as there is a need for help in several positions, including site coordinates, reception greeters, document intake, and income tax preparation. Accounting or finance experience is not necessary to volunteer.

Those helping clients, coordinating sites, and providing tax preparation services will receive formal training, making this a good opportunity to learn about federal and state tax laws, and the preparation process, while serving the communities where they live and work.

Applications

Anyone interested in giving their time to either the VITA or TCE programs during the tax season from January through April 2025 should complete the following steps before Nov. 18:

· Fill out a Community Volunteer Information form on the Department of Revenue website at https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/ContactUs/vitavolunteerinfo.aspx.

· Contact DOR’s VITA-TCE Program Coordinator Juan Carlos Reyes at juan.reyes@wisconsin.gov.

Last tax season, volunteers with the VITA and TCE programs prepared nearly 69,500 tax returns at about 180 locations statewide. 

The VITA program is a cooperative effort by the IRS and many individual states, including Wisconsin. 

Volunteers trained by the IRS and DOR prepare basic income tax returns for free. The TCE program is supported by AARP. The AARP’s Tax-Aide volunteers train in cooperation with the IRS and DOR to prepare basic income tax returns for free during tax season. Most of these sites offer free electronic filing.