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Free Tax Preparation

Need support filing your taxes? For more than 10 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has provided residents with access to free in-person and online income tax assistance so working families can receive all their eligible tax credits and refunds.

Tax time is an important financial moment, but many families miss the opportunity for a refund because they don’t file or make a mistake when they file. Our Free Tax Preparation program ensures working families can receive thousands of dollars each year from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit to put toward savings and living expenses.

Benefits

  • Completely free
  • Safe, secure and led by volunteers who are IRS-certified tax preparers
  • Saves you money. Clients save an average of $350 in tax preparation and filing fees, plus get an average refund of $1,800 by claiming all their eligible tax credits and refunds. Last year, 362 volunteers helped 10,800 North Texas families receive a total of $14.5 million in refunds.

Documents Needed

  • Photo ID
  • Social Security or ITIN cards for you, your spouse and dependents
  • All W2 and 1099 forms to document income
  • Documentation of expenses paid for deductions
  • Health insurance documents (1095 A/B)
  • Checking/savings account number
  • Last year’s tax return

2025 Services Available

Free tax preparation services will begin opening in early February 2025. Please check individual organizations and websites for location details, operating hours and additional information.

Foundation Communities: Dallas County

During the tax season, IRS-certified volunteers offer free tax help to individuals and families who earn less than $67,000 a year. Clients can file current and previous year’s tax returns as well as non-resident returns and obtain ITIN renewals. Virtual and online services are also available through the Community Tax Centers.

Walk-in locations will open starting February 1:

  • Concord Church
  • Fretz Park Library
  • North Dallas Shared Ministries
  • Hampton- Illinois Library

By appointment only starting February 15:

  • MLK Community Center

For updated information and service locations, or to sign up for text alerts, visit www.dallastaxcenters.org or text TAXCENTERS to 833-939-1387.
Interested in volunteering to support free tax services? Learn more.

Catholic Charities Dallas: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for Collin County

New for 2025, Catholic Charities of Dallas will operate two VITA sites in Plano. Both sites will be open by appointment only.

Schimelpfenig Library
5024 Custer Road
Plano, Texas 75023
Dates of Operation: February 1 to April 12

St. Mark the Evangelist- Smyth Pastoral Center
1100 West 15th Street
Plano, Texas 75075
Dates of Operation: February 3 to April 15

Schedule
  • Mondays – 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (St. Mark the Evangelist – Smyth Pastoral Center)
  • Tuesdays –  5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (St. Mark the Evangelist – Smyth Pastoral Center)
  • Wednesdays –  5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Schimelpfenig Library)
  • Thursdays – 10:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. (St. Mark the Evangelist – Smyth Pastoral Center)
  • Saturdays –  9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Schimelpfenig Library)

Additional Dallas Area Free Tax Prep Services

Additional Online Free Tax Prep Services

  • MyFreeTaxes: MyFreeTaxes by United Way is a free, online-only tax filing program that assists people as theyfile their federal and state taxes. Available in English and Spanish to anyone with a household income of $79,000 or less. Mobile-friendly with a helpline and email support from IRS-trained specialists.
  • IRS Direct File: Free electronic tax filing program available directly from the IRS for taxpayers whose income is less than $79,000. Supports taxpayers claiming the standard deduction, and supports these tax credits: child tax credit, earned income tax credit and credit for other dependents.

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in volunteering to support financial stability in North Texas? Community tax centers rely on volunteers to provide free tax preparation services and ensure quality, error-free tax returns for the clients they serve.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Tax preparation: Volunteers work directly with clients to assist them in preparing and filing their tax returns accurately, ensuring that they claim all eligible credits and deductions.
  • Quality review: Volunteers meticulously review tax returns for accuracy and completeness, preventing errors and addressing any potential issues before submission.
  • Intake: Intake volunteers welcome clients, gather essential information, and ensure a smooth and organized process for the entire tax preparation journey.
  • Translation services: For non-English speaking clients, translation volunteers provide crucial language support, ensuring effective communication and understanding. Sixty percent of our clientele base is Spanish speaking.

To become a volunteer, you will need to complete three certification tests: Ethics and Intake, Quality Review and IRS Advanced Tax Law certification. To ensure that volunteers are well-prepared for their roles, we offer comprehensive training and onboarding classes. Our training programs provide a flexible approach, accommodating volunteers’ schedules and lifestyles. Training takes place in both classroom settings, available in-person and virtually, with various timing options, including:

  • Two-day courses
  • Three-day courses (morning and afternoon sessions on weekdays)
  • Saturday courses (morning and afternoon sessions)

Contact Johnathan Hale, Senior Program Volunteer Coordinator at Foundation Communities (Johnathan.Hale@foundcom.org) for more information and to sign up for volunteer training.