When Do VITA Sites Open? How to Book a Free Tax Appointment Early

Published October 15, 2026

When do VITA sites open? Most open in late January or early February and run through April 15, and the appointment calendars fill fast. If you are searching in October, there is nothing to book yet: the sites are closed. Here is the real calendar and the playbook that gets you a slot before they are gone.

Every October the same question lands in my inbox from people who need free tax help: the VITA site near them shows no hours and no booking link. It is not a bug. VITA is a seasonal program. Sites recruit and train volunteers in the fall, open their doors in late January or early February, and close around April 15. Searching in the fall is like showing up at a farmers market in January. Right idea, wrong month.

The 2026 season followed the usual pattern. United Way sites in Sarasota opened February 3 and ran through April 15. Salina's intake ran February 2 through April 8. A few sites opened in the last week of January. Some locations stay open into the fall for extensions and prior-year returns, but that is the exception. Plan on February through mid-April.

When do VITA sites open their appointment books?

Start looking in January. The IRS VITA locator updates with the season's sites, usually by mid-January. Your local United Way often runs the program and opens its own booking page around the same time, and dialing 211 connects you to the local coordinator. Many sites went appointment-only and never went back. Some keep walk-in hours, and a few run drop-off service: you leave your documents, volunteers prepare the return, you pick it up later. Book the week the calendar opens. February Saturdays vanish first.

If you cannot get to a site, two free alternatives run the same program. GetYourRefund.org pairs you with a certified VITA volunteer for virtual filing, document upload and all. MyFreeTaxes.com lets you file yourself online with no income limit. Both are legitimate extensions of the free-filing system.

One thing people get wrong: VITA has an income ceiling. The general guideline for the 2025 tax year was $67,000 or less in income, and the number moves a little each year. Some local sites set their own limits, higher or lower. Check the listing before you book, and bring your documents so one trip is enough.

Find your site: the Free Tax Help Locator lists VITA and TCE sites near you.

Mark the second week of January on your calendar now. When the locator updates, book the earliest Saturday you can make. The volunteers are excellent, but there are never enough of them. The people who file in February get the same quality as the people who panic in April, with shorter lines.

Frequently asked questions

When do VITA sites open each year?

Most open in late January or early February and operate through April 15. Appointment calendars typically open in mid-January, and early slots go first.

Can I get VITA help outside tax season?

Usually not in person. Most sites close after April 15, though a few stay open for extensions and prior-year returns. Virtual filing through GetYourRefund.org and self-filing through MyFreeTaxes.com remain available year-round.

Do VITA sites take walk-ins?

Some do, but many are appointment-only. Check the listing before you go. Showing up without an appointment at an appointment-only site wastes a trip.

How do I find a VITA site near me?

Use the IRS VITA locator at irs.gov starting in January, call 211, or check your local United Way's website for its booking page.

Is there an income limit for VITA?

Yes. The general guideline for the 2025 tax year was $67,000 or less in income, though some local sites set their own limits. Check the site's listing for its cutoff.