Close-up of IRS form 1040 for U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Part of a 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form is shown July 24, 2018, in New York. The United Way of San Joaquin County is offering free tax-prep services for low-income residents. (File photo by Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)

Now that we’re getting deeper into 2025, the chore of having to file income taxes is on the horizon.

For low-income residents needing help with their taxes, the United Way of San Joaquin County is offering free services, beginning this weekend.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, or VITA, will be available at four sites in Stockton. There also will be locations in Lodi, French Camp, Thornton and Tracy.

The program launches Saturday. Appointments are available for those who earned less than $68,000 in 2024.

How to access VITA services

Eligible residents can call 211 to make an appointment to visit these VITA sites for drop-off tax filing.

  • Stanislaus State, Stockton campus, 612 E. Magnolia St., Stockton, CA 95202
  • Dorothy L. Jones Resource Center, 2044 N. Fair St., Stockton, CA 95206
  • Conway Family Resource Center, 2504 Connecticut Ave., Stockton, CA 95206
  • Villa Monterey Family Resource, 4707 Kentfield Road, Suite C, Stockton, 95207
  • Health Plan of San Joaquin, 7751 S. Manthey Road, French Camp 95231
  • Lodi Family Resource Center, 100 E. Pine St., Lodi, CA 95240
  • Thornton Branch Library, 26341 Thornton, CA 95686
  • Tracy Family Resource Center, 236 W. Beverly Place, Tracy, CA 95376

United Way is now part of the VITA Coalition of San Joaquin County, which includes 211 San Joaquin, Community Partnerships for Families, El Concilio, Stanislaus State’s Stockton campus and Health Plan of San Joaquin.

“VITA is one of the strongest anti-poverty programs and one that can make an immediate difference to a family or individual,” United Way CEO Kristen Birtwhistle said. “United Way’s role was to mobilize our community partners to optimize VITA and to organize together to help even more people obtain additional money than in prior years.”

All of the VITA Coalition groups are working to make sure San Joaquin County residents know about their tax preparation services. Among their goals is to make people aware of how to take advantage of tax breaks, like the California Earned Income Tax Credit, or CalEITC.

It’s no small effort: Last year, more than 100 volunteers helped VITA prepare over 1,200 tax returns, racking up refunds and returns totaling $3.1 million, United Way officials said.

The VITA program is staffed by trained, IRS-certified volunteers. They will be able to assist with preparing and filing tax returns at the eight VITA sites across the county.