VITA and Free Tax Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

You do not need to pay $150 to $450 for a tax preparer when you are raising a grandchild on a fixed income. Several IRS-sponsored and nonprofit programs offer free tax preparation specifically suited to grandparents and kinship caregivers. The key is knowing which program to use and arriving with organized documentation.

VITA — Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

VITA sites are staffed by IRS-certified volunteers. The IRS does not set a program-wide income limit, and individual sites may set their own. Many sites serve people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers. Most sites operate from late January through mid-April at community centers, libraries, churches, and nonprofit offices.

VITA volunteers can prepare returns that include dependent claims, the Child Tax Credit, the EITC, head of household filing status, and Schedule 8812. They handle exactly the type of return a grandparent raising a grandchild needs to file.

To find a VITA site near you, use the IRS VITA Locator Tool online or call 211.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Tax-Aide focuses on taxpayers aged 50 and older (you do not need to be an AARP member). Volunteers are trained on pensions, Social Security taxation, and retirement income — making this program especially useful for grandparents whose income comes primarily from Social Security and a pension.

Tax-Aide sites operate during tax season at libraries, community centers, and AARP chapter locations. Availability is first-come-first-served or by appointment depending on the site.

Find a Tax-Aide location through the AARP Tax-Aide site locator.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)

TCE is the IRS grant program that funds Tax-Aide and similar volunteer programs for older taxpayers. Some TCE sites operate independently of AARP. If you are 60 or older, TCE-funded sites may serve your area even if no AARP Tax-Aide location is nearby.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs)

LITCs are different from VITA and Tax-Aide. They do not prepare tax returns — they represent you if the IRS disputes your return. If your EITC or CTC claim is audited, if you receive a CP75 inquiry notice, or if your refund is held because of a competing dependency claim, an LITC can represent you for free or at a minimal cost.

LITCs are independent legal clinics funded by IRS grants under IRC § 7526. They operate year-round, not just during tax season. Find one through the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

How to Prepare for Your Appointment

Free tax preparers can file your return, but they need you to bring the documentation. They cannot organize your records for you, and they will turn you away if you lack essential documents. Here is what to bring:

• Your photo ID and Social Security card
• The grandchild's Social Security card and birth certificate
• Proof of relationship (birth certificates showing lineage)
• School enrollment records or medical records showing the child's address at your home
• All income documents (SSA-1099, 1099-R for pensions, W-2 if you work)
• Records of household expenses (rent receipts, utility bills, property tax statements) if filing head of household
• Prior year's tax return, if available

If another person might also claim the grandchild, bring documentation showing the child lived with you for more than half the tax year — at least 183 nights in a 365-day year or 184 nights in a leap year. School records, a pediatrician's visit history, or an overnight log may help document the nights.

Organize Before You Go

Our US Kinship Tax Guide is built for exactly this purpose — it includes a pre-appointment document checklist, a residency log, and the household expense worksheets that VITA and Tax-Aide volunteers need to prepare your return correctly the first time.

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