Free tax preparation San Diego
Who qualifies for free tax filing in San Diego
- IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers prepare basic returns free for qualifying San Diego households.
- Eligible military households file free through MilTax from Military OneSource, with no income limit (2026).
- Workers earning up to $32,900 can claim the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), worth up to $3,756 for tax year 2025.
Eligible households book a free tax appointment through 2-1-1 or myfreetaxes.org with the San Diego County EITC Coalition, whose preparers check for CalEITC and other credits.
Free tax preparation San Diego sites and online filing
Through the VITA program, San Diego County partners run free tax sites each filing season, with help in multiple languages.
- The IRS offers VITA to people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and limited English speakers (checked October 2026).
- Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteers focus on filers 60 and older.
- San Diego Public Library branches hosted free help from February to April 2026: walk-in at Allied Gardens and College Rolando, and by 2-1-1 appointment at Mission Valley.
- Filers can search the IRS site locator by ZIP code during filing season.
- Eligible filers with adjusted gross income of $95,000 or less can use IRS Free File guided software for their federal return from January 2027.
- Full-year California residents who meet the CalFile qualifications can e-file their state return free with the Franchise Tax Board, through a MyFTB account.
Camp Pendleton tax center and MilTax
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton ended its VITA program after the 2022 filing season and pointed service members to MilTax.
Through MilTax, eligible military members file a federal return and up to five state returns free (2026).
CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit
Filers claim both credits on Form FTB 3514 with their California return.
| Credit | Tax year 2025 terms |
|---|---|
| CalEITC | Up to $3,756 for workers earning up to $32,900 |
| Young Child Tax Credit | Up to $1,189 per return with a child under 6, even with no earned income |
When to hire a CPA for a complex tax return
Hire a certified public accountant (CPA) for a return VITA volunteers won't prepare. The IRS excludes a business with a net loss, depreciation or a home office, and complex stock sales. Read how much does a CPA cost before booking, and how to choose a CPA before signing.