The 2024 tax season filing deadline on Tuesday, April 15 is rapidly approaching, and the average American taxpayer will spend around 13 hours and $240 to file one annual tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Collectively, Americans pay an average of $546 billion in yearly tax preparation service fees and payments to tax professionals.
What if you didn’t have to walk through your tax filing alone or pay a single cent?
The IRS, Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA), United Way of North Central Florida and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are offering free in-person or virtual tax filing services in the Gainesville area for income-qualifying taxpayers of all ages and languages.
MyFreeTaxes software has helped more than 1.3 million people save $260 million in tax filing fees. During the 2023 tax season, nearly 10% of United Way of North Central Florida’s tax site taxpayers tallied $342,413 in refund savings and an estimated $322,322 in tax return preparation fees were avoided.
So, check to see if you qualify for any of these free services, schedule an appointment, file your taxes with all the necessary documents, track your refund and save even more time and money this tax season.
Tax filers with an income less than $67,000 are eligible for free tax preparation through the IRS VITA and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. To schedule an in-person appointment at one of the following sites, call 352-332-4636.
- Buchholz High School
Address: 5510 NW 27th Ave.
When: Feb. 12 to April 15
- UF Levin College of Law (Bruton-Geer Hall)
Address: 2500 SW 2nd Ave.
When: Feb. 3 to April 15
- United Way of North Central Florida
Address: 6031 NW 1st Pl.
When: Jan. 20 to Oct. 30
(English and Spanish available)
- Santa Fe College Main (Bldg C, Rm 119)
Address: 3000 NW 83rd St.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays from Feb. 3 to April 15
- Reichert House
Address: 1704 SE Hawthorne Rd.
When: Feb. 5 to April 15
- Cone Park Library
Address: 2801 E University Ave.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays from Feb. 1 to April 15
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
Taxpayers of all ages can schedule free, one-hour appointments to file a single 2024 tax return starting Jan. 27 through April 15. AARP membership is not required. Appointments can be made online and walk-ins during Tax-Aide hours will be available first-come, first-served. Tax-Aide recommends preparing for appointments by reviewing the Taxpayer Assistance information page. At the end of the appointment, the tax return will be ready to e-file and the taxpayer will receive a copy of their return. Saturday walk-in assistance is available at select locations.
- Headquarters Library
Address: 401 E University Ave.
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment Jan. 27 to April 15; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday walk-ins on Feb. 15, March 22 and April 12.
- Library Partnership Branch
Address: 912 NE 16th Ave.
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays by appointment Jan. 29-April 15
- Millhopper Branch
Address: 3145 NW 43rd St.
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays by appointment Jan. 27-April 15; 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Saturday walk-ins on Mar. 15 and April 5
- Tower Road Branch
Address: 3020 SW 75th St.
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment Jan. 28-April 15, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Saturday walk-ins on Feb. 22 and March 29
- Alachua County Senior Recreation Center
Address: 5701 NW 34th Blvd.
When: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays by appointment through April 15
- Oak Hammock at UF
Address: 5100 SW 25th Blvd.
When: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Mondays by appointment through April 15
United Way VITA at Alachua County Library District
Tax filers with an income less than $67,000 are eligible for free tax preparation. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified taxpayers. Qualified taxpayers can include, but are not limited to low to moderate-income households, individuals with disabilities, limited English or living in surrounding rural communities.
To make an appointment at one of the following VITA sites, dial 2-1-1 or call 352-332-4636. Services are available for Spanish speakers.
- Alachua Branch
Address: 14913 NW 140 St., Alachua
When: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
- Cone Park Branch
Address: 2801 E University Ave.
When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Feb. 7 and 21, March 7 and 21
- Library Partnership Branch
Address; 912 NE 16th Ave.
When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb. 14 and 28, March 14 and 28
Virtual filing
- Alachua County AARP virtual site
Tax returns are prepared, reviewed and e-filed by AARP IRS-certified tax counselors. After clients submit an Alachua County Virtual Site Service Request Form linked above to schedule a virtual appointment, they’ll upload required forms and tax documents into an IRS-approved Tax-Aide software for at least two virtual interviews on Tuesdays by appointment with tax counselors.
- AARP
Clients with income less than $84,000 can prepare their own tax returns for free with virtual coaching from AARP IRS-certified tax counselors through Tax-Aide software. Fees may be assessed by the software company for those with higher incomes. Clients are responsible for data entry and e-filing of the return.
- MyFreeTaxes®
Tax filers who earned less than $67,000 in 2024 can have their taxes prepared for free with a turnaround window of two to three weeks through myfreetaxes.com. Individuals who made under $87,000 can prepare their own taxes for free with a turnaround time in less than an hour. The service is available in English and Spanish and can be used on phones, tablets or laptops with the ability to start filing on one device and finish on another. MyFreeTaxes’ helpline is available at 1-866-698-9435 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily for access to IRS-trained assistance.
The MyFreeTaxes software walks users through the filing process and screens for common tax deductions and credit eligibilities, as well as: W-2 income, self-employment income (Schedule C and 1099), mortgage interest deduction, unemployment income, student education expenses and credits, student loan interest, claiming the standard deduction, itemized returns, Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC), child tax credits, child and dependent care expenses, non-resident returns and amended tax returns.
- IRS Free File
This IRS tax software program is available for free for individuals with an income of $84,000 or less through the Free File Alliance non-profit. Filers of any income can use Free Fillable Forms through mid-October 2025.
If you’re interested in becoming a VITA tax volunteer, you don’t need previous experience. You must be 16 years or older, able to commit a minimum of four hours per week during tax season (end of January through April 15) and complete a free IRS certification. Certification in limited tax law is necessary, but training will be provided. Bilingual volunteers are needed. Click here to submit a volunteer application.