Before the day of your appointment

✅  Collect and organize all documents needed to prepare your return including:

• All tax documents for the tax year.

• A copy of your last filed tax return

• Any correspondence you received from the IRS or the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)

• Identity Protection PIN, if issued by the IRS to you (and your spouse if filing together)

• Checking or savings account information if you want to direct deposit any refund(s) or direct debit any amounts due.

• Government-issued photo identification for yourself (and spouse if filing together)

• Social Security Number documentation for every person listed on the return, both taxpayer(s) and dependents.  Acceptable documentation is either the SSN card or 1099­­­-SSA statement if you receive Social Security benefits.

• If married and filing together, both you and your spouse must be present to sign your tax return.

• If filing a return for a taxpayer who is incapacitated, you must provide a valid Power of Attorney.

• If filing for a deceased person and you are not the surviving spouse, you must provide a court document appointing you as the representative or trust document designating you as the trustee.  If you are the person in charge of the deceased person's property and not court-appointed, you must file IRS Form 1310 with the tax return.  See IRS Publication 559.

Click to open and print our checklist of documents you need to bring to your appointment.

✅  Review our Intake Booklet.  You will be asked to fill out the Intake­ booklet at your appointment before meeting with a tax counselor.

Tip:   To help us get you to a tax counselor faster, bring a completed Intake Booklet to your appointment.  You can download and print a copy or pick up the booklet at any of our tax sites on their open day.  (The booklet is also fillable, so you can open the downloaded copy and fill in the entries using Adobe Acrobat Reader on your desktop.)

✅ Double-check the date and time of your appointment and the address and phone number of the tax site where you made the appointment.  Bring this information to you in case you need to refer to it.

Before the day of your appointment

✅  Collect and organize all documents needed to prepare your return including:

• All tax documents for the tax year.

• A copy of your last filed tax return

• Any correspondence you received from the IRS or the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)

• Identity Protection PIN, if issued by the IRS to you (and your spouse if filing together)

• Checking or savings account information if you want to direct deposit any refund(s) or direct debit any amounts due.

• Government-issued photo identification for yourself (and spouse if filing together)

• Social Security Number documentation for every person listed on the return, both taxpayer(s) and dependents.  Acceptable documentation is either the SSN card or 1099­­­-SSA statement if you receive Social Security benefits.

• If married and filing together, both you and your spouse must be present to sign your tax return.

• If filing a return for a taxpayer who is incapacitated, you must provide a valid Power of Attorney.

• If filing for a deceased person and you are not the surviving spouse, you must provide a court document appointing you as the representative or trust document designating you as the trustee.  If you are the person in charge of the deceased person's property and not court-appointed, you must file IRS Form 1310 with the tax return.  See IRS Publication 559.

Click to open and print our checklist of documents you need to bring to your appointment.

✅  Review our Intake Booklet.  You will be asked to fill out the Intake­ booklet at your appointment before meeting with a tax counselor.

Tip:   To help us get you to a tax counselor faster, bring a completed Intake Booklet to your appointment.  You can download and print a copy or pick up the booklet at any of our tax sites on their open day.  (The booklet is also fillable, so you can open the downloaded copy and fill in the entries using Adobe Acrobat Reader on your desktop.)

✅ Double-check the date and time of your appointment and the address and phone number of the tax site where you made the appointment.  Bring this information to you in case you need to refer to it.

On the day of your appointment

Arrive early for your appointment

Please arrive at the tax site 15 minutes before your appointment to check in at our intake desk.

At check-in, we will verify your appointment date and time and screen your identification and tax documents.  If you don't bring a completed Intake Booklet, you will given the booklet to fill out at the site before meeting with a tax counselor.

What if I'm late or need to cancel?

Please don't be a No-Show.  If you're running late on your way to your appointment or need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact us immediately by calling the tax site where you made the appointment.

Let's keep everyone safe!

Tax season is also the season for higher risk of respiratory illnesses, including the cold, flu, RSV and COVID-19.    

If you're sick, please cancel or reschedule your appointment.  If you come to your appointment with symptoms, you will be asked to leave the site--we will help you reschedule your appointment.

After your appointment

How do I know if my return was e-filed successfully?

We electronically file (e-file) your tax return on the day it is signed by you (and your spouse if filing together).  We will contact you only if your return is rejected by the IRS.  If you want to be notified when your return has been accepted by the IRS, ask your tax counselor during your appointment to have it either sent to you by text message or email.  Also, you can call and leave a message at the phone number of the tax site where you had your return prepared.

How do I check my refund status?

If you're expecting a IRS tax refund,  click "Where's My IRS Refund" to go to the IRS website to check on the status of your federal, then click the blue "Check Your Refund" button to start your inquiry.

For the status of your California tax refund, click "Where's my FTB refund", then click the blue "Check refund" button.

How long should I keep my tax records?

The IRS recommends keeping tax return records for three (3) years after the return is filed, but longer if certain situations apply.  Click IRS to visit the IRS webpage for a full explanation for keeping tax return records.