Volunteer Income Tax Assistant
Welcome to San Diego State University VITA
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS program designed to assist low income taxpayers (generally people who earn $67,000 or less), persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking taxpayers (including non-U.S. residents) prepare and file their tax returns. Volunteers at this location are SDSU students trained and certified by the IRS to prepare federal and California state income tax returns free of charge.
Mission
The mission of SDSU VITA is to improve the lives of the campus community by providing free tax assistance in partnership with the IRS. Many students and other community members do not have access to affordable tax preparation services or are unaware of tax programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit, Education Tax Credits, Child Tax Credit) that could put thousands of dollars back in their hands and into the local economy. SDSU VITA primarily aids SDSU international students with their non-resident income tax compliance. International students often need special assistance to navigate this unfamiliar and complex area of tax law.
Coordinators
Faculty Advisors: Lin Wang
Student Coordinator: Doug Kelley
IRS Site Advisor: Jim Moran
Student Coordinators: TBD
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8221
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not professional tax advisors and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance, contact a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).
Hours of Operation
If you have an issue with a tax return that was prepared by SDSU VITA, please send an email to [email protected].
SDSU VITA will maintain its virtual operations for spring 2025, preparing tax returns for the 2024 calendar year. Do not come to campus to have your tax return prepared.
WE WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING APPOINTMENTS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS. Our scheduling system will open February 1 so you can reserve a virtual appointment with SDSU VITA.
Our domestic clients are encouraged to seek out one of the other VITA sites that operate in San Diego County. The IRS maintains a list of operating VITA sites here: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/
Appointments will be available on a first-come first-serve basis on the following dates:
- Feb 21: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (limited appointments on this date)
- Feb 28: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Mar 7: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Mar 14: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Mar 21: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Mar 28: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Apr 4: Closed, Spring Break
- Apr 11: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Apr 18: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
To ensure we can prepare your return, please book an appointment on the Foreign Student page. We will provide NO WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS during spring 2025. Taxpayers are asked to not come to the SDSU campus to have taxes prepared under any circumstances as we are unable to serve you in this manner.
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not professional tax advisers and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance, contact a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).
U.S. Residents
SDSU VITA is unable to prepare and process income tax returns for US tax residents in 2025. As the only VITA site in San Diego County with volunteers trained on foreign student tax returns, we continue our focus on serving these clients.
If you are a resident taxpayer there are several VITA sites located in San Diego County that can prepare your tax return, found using this tool: https://irs.treasury. gov/freetaxprep/. I would encourage you to contact the site before visiting to confirm their procedures and hours of operations.
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not professional tax advisors and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance, contact a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).
Foreign Students
Foreign Students – Taxes
Any U.S. citizen or green card holder is automatically a US tax resident. In 2025, we will not prepare resident tax returns at SDSU VITA. See our U.S. residents page for information on other VITA sites in San Diego.
If you are a foreign student and not sure whether you qualify as a resident or non-resident, you can use the SPT Flowchart to determine if you are exempt from the substantial presence test (SPT).
If you determine you are subject to the substantial presence test, you are NOT automatically a resident. Use this SPT Exemption Flowchart to determine if you are a resident under the SPT. If you are a resident, go to the resident page for more information.
SDSU will only prepare only foreign student tax returns during spring 2025.
Operating Virtually
SDSU VITA will maintain its virtual operations for spring 2025, preparing tax returns for the 2024 calendar year. Do not come to campus to have your tax return prepared. You should allow for at least 90 minutes to have your tax return prepared and filed. Returns will be prepared by appointment only (see link below). It is imperative that you come to your virtual appointment prepared. Taxpayers that are not prepared will be asked to book a new appointment with the understanding that future appointments may not be available. Please pay careful attention to the items below under Required items.
Required items:
Please review the following IRS Publications prior to booking an appointment: Publication 4053 & Publication 4836. Below is a list of items that are required to prepare your tax return. Please keep in mind that your situation may not require the issuance of all the common tax forms listed below. For example, if you did not have a brokerage account then you would not be issued a Consolidated 1099. For any applicable tax forms, you will need to have them in electronic format and be able to provide them to your tax preparer electronically, during your appointment.
All Clients:
- Form 13614NR: completed prior to your appointment
- Form 14446: completed and signed prior to your appointment
- Valid photo identification such as a passport, required for all individuals listed on your tax return (most non-residents file single with no dependents)
- Social Security card
- Proof of Tax Residence status for all individuals listed on your tax return
- Bank routing number and account numbers for direct deposit
Common Tax Forms (not applicable to all clients):
- Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement: from all employers
- Form 1042-S Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding
- Form 1099 (INT, DIV, Consolidated): interest and dividends statement from your banks. A consolidated 1099 is typically issued from a brokerage (Fidelity, eTrade, Robinhood, etc)
A copy of last year's federal and state tax returns, if available
Records to substantiate any other item that you wish to include on your tax return
Please note that ANY tax return involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin and Ethereum cannot be prepared at SDSU VITA.
To book an appointment:
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not professional tax advisors and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance, contact a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).
Why Become a Volunteer?
Why become a VITA volunteer?
Simple, to make a difference. As a VITA volunteer, you will:
- Prepare Federal and California state income tax returns free of charge for people in your community. Most of our clients are international students in San Diego with limited tax experience and very few options.
- Gain hands-on experience preparing tax returns using software, applying what you have learned in classes, and gaining valuable customer service skills.
Undergraduate accounting majors are eligible to apply up to 3 units of ACCTG 409 toward the upper division accounting elective requirements (in lieu of a 500-level ACCTG elective).
Interested? Volunteer at SDSU
To serve as an SDSU VITA Volunteer, you must register for ACCTG 409, a credit/no credit course associated with VITA. Accounting major students are eligible for up to three units of ACCTG 409 but note that each unit requires approximately two hours of volunteer time. Enrollment in ACCTG 409 requires credit or concurrent registration in ACCTG 325, ACCTG 332, or ACCTG 503. You are required to attend the in-class training sessions that occur prior to the opening of the VITA site. In 2025, training sessions will be held from NOON-3PM on the following days: January 24th, January 31st, February 7th, and February 14th. You must attend training at the above block of times regardless which section(s) of ACCTG 409 you are enrolled in. SDSU VITA requires that you pass the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview and Quality Review, Basic, Advanced, and Foreign Student exams prior to preparing any tax returns. Failure to complete these exams by the due date will result in a grade of no credit.
SDSU VITA will operate in a hybrid format. Students will be required to come to campus and use on-campus computer equipment. Student protocols for attending in-person classes must be followed. Traditionally, SDSU VITA has been held in the Love Library.
Each unit of ACCTG 409 requires that you work at the SDSU VITA site for an approximate two-hour block. SDSU VITA will continue to operate on Friday from 10:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not professional tax advisors and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance, contact a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).