PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) – Free tax preparation services are available online and in-person to filers in northwest Florida.
Filers making $73,000 or less can use free IRS filing software through private providers like TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct. Most of the programs allow qualifying users to file both federal and state tax returns for free. The IRS has a screening tool and list of programs on its website: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers both free tax preparation and electronic filing for a quick refund. Trained volunteers help individuals and families, with annual incomes up to $60,000, at in-person locations.
Returns are due to be filed by April 18.
VITA site locations:
| County | Operating Time | Address & Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Escambia | Thursdays: 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/14 4 to 7 p.m., by appointment | Habitat for Humanity 300 W. Leonard St, Pensacola 855-420-8689 |
| Escambia | Fridays: 2/3, 3/3, 4/7 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., by appointment | Early Learning Coalition 1720 W. Fairfield Dr, Pensacola 855-420-8689 |
| Escambia | Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays: 1 to 5 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Pensacola State College 5555 W Hwy 98, Pensacola 850-912-8245 |
| Escambia | Tuesdays, Thursdays: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays: 10 to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Pensacola State College 1000 College Blvd, Bldg 09, Pensacola 855-420-8689 |
| Escambia | Saturdays: 2/4, 2/18, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., by appointment | Florida Blue Center 1680 Airport Road, Pensacola 855-420-8689 |
| Escambia | Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Goodwill Gulf Coast 1715 E Olive Rd, Pensacola 855-420-8689 |
| Escambia | Tuesdays, Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/4 until 4/18 | Pensacola Public Library 239 N Spring St, Pensacola 850-207-8878 |
| Escambia | Mondays, Fridays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/4 until 4/18 | Bayview Senior Center 2000 E Lloyd St, Pensacola 850-436-5190 |
| Escambia | Wednesdays, Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Red Vickery Center 2130 Summit Blvd, Pensacola 850-332-2683 |
| Escambia | Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Myrtle Grove United Methodist Church 1030 N 57th Ave, Pensacola 850-889-1130 |
| Escambia | Tuesdays, Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Saint Luke United Methodist Church 1394 E Nine Mile Rd, Pensacola 850-739-0360 |
| Escambia | Mondays, Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Southwest Branch Library 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, Pensacola 850-266-5088 |
| Escambia | Fridays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/10 until 4/14 | Molino Branch Library 6450 Highway 95A, Molino 850-435-1760 |
| Okaloosa | Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. By appointment, 1/16 until 12/31 | Goodwill Gulf Coast 913-H Beal Pkwy NW, Fort Walton Beach 850-243-7118 |
| Okaloosa | Monday – Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 1/23 until 5/23 | C2B Outreach Center 619-A Lovejoy Rd, Fort Walton Beach 850-684-5336 |
| Okaloosa | Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | First Christian Church 201 Saint Mary Ave Sw, Fort Walton Beach 850-304-0033 |
| Okaloosa | Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Destin Public Library 150 Sibert Ave, Destin 850-837-8572 |
| Okaloosa | Tuesdays: 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Robert L F Sikes Library 1445 Commerce Dr, Crestview 850-682-4432 |
| Santa Rosa | Tuesdays: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Pensacola State College 5988 US Hwy 90, Bldg 4000, Milton 855-420-8689 |
| Santa Rosa | Mondays, Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/6 until 4/18 | Gulf Breeze Library 1060 Shoreline Dr, Gulf Breeze 850-565-9036 |
| Santa Rosa | Mondays, Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Pace Fire Rescue District 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd, Pace 850-225-3167 |
| Santa Rosa | Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 12 to 4 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Milton Public Library 5541 Alabama St, Milton 850-418-1207 |
| Santa Rosa | Mondays, Fridays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/18 | Milton Community Center 5629 Byrom St, Milton 850-418-1207 |
| Santa Rosa | Mondays, Fridays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/3 until 4/17 | Navarre Branch Library 8484 James Harvell Rd, Navarre 850-816-0564 |
| Walton | Thursdays: 1 to 5 p.m. By appointment, 2/9 until 4/6 | 573 N Suttles Rd, Defuniak Springs 850-217-8143 |
| Walton | Tuesdays, Thursdays: 12 to 5 p.m. By appointment, 2/18 until 4/18 | Walton County Coastal Branch Library 437 Greenway Trl, Santa Rosa Beach 850-267-2809 |
| Walton | Thursdays: 10 to 1 p.m. By appointment, 2/9 until 4/6 | Life Enrichment Senior Center 312 College Ave, Defuniak Springs 850-892-8746 |
| Gulf | Mondays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays: 1 to 7 p.m. By appointment, 1/30 until 4/13 | Gulf County Public Library 110 Library Drive, Port Saint Joe 850-227-8737 |
| Gulf | Tuesdays: 1 to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. By appointment, 1/31 until 4/14 | Wewahitchka Public Library 314 N. 2nd St, Wewahitchka 850-227-8737 |
| Bay | Saturdays: 2/11, 2/18, 3/18, 3/259 a.m. to 1 p.m., by appointment | First Baptist Church 5940 Highway 2311, Panama City 850-638-1180 |
| Bay | Tuesday – Thursday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment required, 1/24 until 4/13 | AD Harris Learning Village 819 E. 11th Street, Panama City |
| Bay | Mondays, Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment, 2/4 until 4/15 | Panama City Beach Library 12500 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach 850-329-5235 |
| Bay | Thursdays, Fridays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. By appointment, 2/2 until 4/14 | Trinity Lutheran Church 1001 W 11th St, Panama City 850-329-5235 |
| Bay | Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. By appointment, 2/1 until 4/12 | The Arc Of The Bay 1804 Carolina Ave, Lynn Haven 850-329-5235 |
When coming to a VITA appointment, filers should bring:
- Proof of identification (photo ID)
- Social Security cards for you, your spouse and dependents
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter may be substituted for you, your spouse and your dependents if you do not have a Social Security number
- Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN
- Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
- Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
- Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
- Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check
- To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms
- Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number
- Forms 1095-A, B and C, Health Coverage Statements
- Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable
