Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

For over 50 years, the Volunteer Income  Tax Assistance Program has helped thousands of older Minnesotans and those with low-to-moderate income prepare their tax returns and obtain the credits and refunds due them. The program is free and all tax preparers are volunteers. In the Rochester area, appointments are scheduled at The Salvation Army, 125 Live and Bethel Lutheran Church, February 1 through April 15 and again for selected sessions in the summer. In addition, tax preparers provide help at various senior residences in Rochester and in several outlying communities in Olmsted and Dodge County. Arrangements can be made for interpreters if notified in advance. We begin training new tax preparers in the fall. If interested in volunteering as a greeter, screener or preparer, please make contact before December 1. Prior to tax year 2020, the volunteers offered this service as an AARP Tax Aide program.  At that time, we changed to a VITA program with the same set of volunteers. 

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) provides free income tax counseling and help in tax form preparation for low-to-moderate income, disabled, limited English speaking capability or age 60 and older individuals who come to the VITA program to have their tax returns prepared. Counselors are trained in cooperation with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue. VITA,started 50 years ago, serves primarily low and moderate income taxpayers and the elderly. During recent  filing seasons, over 4000 taxpayers were assisted in Olmsted and Dodge Counties returning back to these tax filers over $4M in credits and refunds.