Berkeley VITA trains student volunteers to become IRS-certified tax preparers, then deploys them to free tax prep sites across the Bay Area each spring. In the fall, members take a 2-unit P/NP DeCal (SOCWEL 97/197) covering the Basic Certification Exam, wealth inequality, and hands-on practice with TaxSlayer software. In spring, members commit 30 volunteer hours filing returns for low-income community members. In the 2024 tax season, volunteers filed 1,093 returns and helped claim $1.9M in refunds.
ApplicationsPlease check back in late August for more information about our 2025-26 recruiting cycle!
30
Spring volunteer hours required
2
DeCal units (Pass/No Pass)
2,490
Hours volunteered (2024 tax season)
1,093
Tax returns filed (2024 tax season)
$1.9M
Refunds claimed (2024 tax season)
2010
Year established
Events They Host
Free Tax Preparation Services
Certified student volunteers file tax returns for low-income community members in-person or virtually at partner VITA sites across the Bay Area each spring tax season.
Member Experiences
Fall DeCal Classes
Weekly classes covering IRS Basic Certification Exam content, wealth inequality in relation to the federal income tax system, and hands-on practice with TaxSlayer software. Culminates in the IRS Certification Exam in December. Course: SOCWEL 97/197, 2 units P/NP.