Where to find free, IRS-approved tax filing in 2026 as the deadline nears
With less than two weeks to go before the April 15 tax filing deadline, free help is available for thousands of people across the Philadelphia region who qualify and many don't even realize it.
CBS News Philadelphia is In Your Corner this tax season, showing where low- to moderate‑income taxpayers can get their returns filed at no cost.
Free help, certified volunteers
At the Campaign for Working Families headquarters in Philadelphia's Brewerytown neighborhood, volunteers are working nonstop to help prepare tax returns.
For longtime client Uvonka Hudson Williams, the service is essential.
"I know they say TurboTax and all that, but I don't know how to do that stuff online," she said.
Campaign for Working Families is one of dozens of local sites participating in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program — better known as VITA. The program uses IRS‑trained and certified volunteers to prepare returns for free.
Taxpayers can get help filling out their tax forms and learn about credit they may be eligible to claim.
In Philadelphia alone, an estimated 40,000 people each year fail to claim tax credits they qualify for, either because they didn't know they were eligible or didn't file at all. The result: millions of dollars left unclaimed.
Credits can mean thousands of dollars
One of the biggest missed opportunities is the Earned Income Tax Credit. Depending on income and family size, the credit can be worth on average $3,500 or more.
VITA services are generally available to taxpayers earning $69,000 or less.
According to Wendy De La Rosa of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the average American pays more than $300 to have their taxes prepared.
"These VITA sites like Campaign for Working Families fill this need," she said.
Students stepping up to help
Because demand is so high, VITA sites have enlisted help from Wharton students, who receive IRS certification and course credit for volunteering, according to De La Rosa.
Florence Onyiuke, one of those student volunteers, said the work has been deeply meaningful.
"For many people, the refunds they get are crucial to their well‑being," she said.
Help for seniors, too
A similar free program is also available for seniors called Tax Counseling for the Elderly, or TCE.
Both VITA and TCE sites operate throughout the Philadelphia area, South Jersey and Delaware. A majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide program.
How to find a free tax help site
If you need help finding free tax filing services or locate a VITA or TCE site near you, click here to use the IRS VITA/TCE Locator Tool on the IRS' website.
Organizers say they are also looking for additional volunteers interested in training and becoming certified. You can find more information on volunteering as a tax preparer here on the IRS website.
Looking for help with a consumer issue? Click here to submit your complaint to In Your Corner.
