Prepare for your visit

We know taxes can be stressful. That’s why we want to take the guesswork out of preparing for your visit to one of our sites. Learn which service works best for you and what you’ll need to bring.

Find the right service for you

We offer three different tax site services to meet the needs of busy families. Knowing the complexity of your return and the time you can spend at a tax site will help determine which works best for you and your family.

IRS-certified volunteers work one-on-one with you to prepare and file your federal and state tax returns, all in the same day.

Choose this model if… you have a more complicated return and are comfortable staying at the site while it is prepared.

What you’ll need

  • Photo I.D.
  • Social Security card or ITIN for you and every member of your household
  • Income tax documents
  • *If directly depositing your refund: Bank routing and account number
  • *If filing a joint return: Your spouse needs to be present

Process: Depending on the complexity of the return and how busy the site is, you should expect to be there anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours.

Steps to completing your return

  1. Interview: Complete an intake sheet that our IRS-certified volunteers will check to determine if you qualify for the service and have everything you need. Save time at the tax site by completing it before you arrive.
  2. Preparation: Your return is prepared in front of you.
  3. Review: Your return is reviewed for accuracy and to ensure you agree with your results. Once everything is correct, you’ll sign the return for us to electronically file and then leave with your own hard copy.

Drop off your tax documents with IRS-certified volunteers at a central location, then pick up your completed return the following week.

Choose this model if… you have a busy schedule and can easily return to the drop off location.

What you’ll need

  • Photo I.D.
  • Social Security card or ITIN for you and every member of your household
  • Income tax documents
  • Contact phone number or email
  • *If directly depositing your refund: Bank routing and account number
  • *If filing a joint return: Your spouse needs to be present at pickup

Process: Depending on the complexity of your return, you should expect to spend 20 minutes at the site when you drop it off and 15 minutes when you pick it up.

Steps to completing your return

  1. Drop it off: Complete our intake sheet and a 20-minute interview with an IRS-certified volunteer. Your tax documents will be scanned and stored in a secure folder.
  2. Wait a week: Your return is prepared remotely. An IRS-certified volunteer will contact you by phone or email if any questions arise while it’s being prepared.
  3. Pick it up: Come back to the site to review your return. It will not be filed until it’s signed by you (and your spouse, if applicable).

Prepare and file your own return with help from an IRS-certified volunteer using free and secure software.

Choose this model if… you have a fairly simple return and feel comfortable using a computer.

What you’ll need

  • Income tax documents
  • Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year (required if filing electronically)
  • *If directly depositing your refund: Bank routing and account number

Process: Depending on the complexity of your return and how comfortable you are using a computer, most taxpayers can expect to complete their return within 1-2 hours.

Steps to completing your return

  1. Setup: A volunteer will set you up on a computer with free tax filing software.
  2. Prepare it: Use your tax documents to prepare your own return. An IRS-certified volunteer is there to help answer any questions.
  3. File and print: Once your return is completed, you’ll enter your last year’s Adjusted Gross Income or PIN to electronically file your return. A volunteer will help you print and organize it for your personal records.

What to bring to the tax site

Take stock of everything you’ll need before heading to one of our free tax sites.

General tax checklist

Avoid leaving anything at home by using this checklist to gather all the documents needed to have your taxes accurately prepared.

Download

Self-employed checklist

Make sure you have everything needed to accurately file your return as a sole proprietor/contractor.

Download

IRS intake sheet

Get a head start and save time at the tax site by completing this sheet before coming to see us.

Download

Find a free tax site

Find a free Tax Help Colorado site near you based on your tax site type preference, schedule and more.

Go

Frequently asked questions

Take a look at the answers to commonly asked questions. Still don’t have the answer you’re looking for? Reach out and we’ll do our best to find an answer.

In order to prevent identity theft, the IRS requires all volunteer tax sites to verify the Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) of every person listed on the tax return. The IRS will allow us to use one of the following documents to verify these numbers:

  • Social Security Cards or ITINs (originals or copies are acceptable)
  • A letter from the Social Security Administration
  • Form SSA-1099
  • Medicare card that includes the letter “A” after the SSN

We will not be able to complete your return without seeing one of these options for every person listed on the tax return. 

You can request a replacement card online for free.

If you are filing a joint return, we must witness both you and your spouse sign a form that gives us permission to file your return electronically. Your spouse does not need to be at the site the entire time, only to sign the e-file authorization form after the return is complete. If your spouse is physically unable to come to the site, you must present a form asserting power of attorney.

  • If you requested direct deposit, you should see your refund in your bank account 2-3 weeks after your return was accepted.
  • If you requested to receive a check in the mail, you should receive the check 4-6 weeks after your return was accepted.

You can check the status of your federal refund and your state refund.

Yes, we can help you apply for an ITIN or renew an existing ITIN; however, we are not an ITIN Acceptance Agent. You will still need to visit an Acceptance Agent or mail in your original documents to complete the ITIN application.

Depending on the complexity of your return, how busy the site is and the type of service you choose, there are varying time frames you can expect:

  • Traditional: 45 minutes – 3 hours
  • Drop off: 20 minutes at dropoff and 15 minutes at pickup
  • Do It Yourself: 1-2 hours