East Bay Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) provides IRS-trained tax professionals to provide tax-preparation services to clients. VITA volunteers provide timely, quality, and free tax preparation for low to moderate income individuals and families. Volunteers not only prepare tax returns, but simultaneously provide education to clients about their returns and eligible tax credits.

Who We Serve

Individual community members and families with an annual income less than $55,000 are eligible so long as they have minimal deductions for the Schedule C, no self-employment with expenses over $5,000, and have not filed bankruptcy within the past three years. Other exceptions for our service are determined on a case-by-case basis. VITA volunteers support fellow community members in saving money by completing tax returns and electronically filing to the IRS and RI Division of Taxation.

Key Features

VITA provides free tax preparation for community members. Volunteers are local Senior Corps members providing time and expertise, and students from Roger Williams University, CCRI, RIC, and URI. VITA educates clients about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is one of the largest means of supplemental income for clients. EITC reduces the federal tax one owes and can result in a refund. All volunteers are certified by IRS training totaling 30 hours or more.

Location(s) of the Program

Hours of Operation

Tax Season

East Providence: Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Newport: Thursday, 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Bristol: Friday, 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. and every other Saturday 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

How to Enroll

Please call the Office of Volunteer Services at 401-435-7876 to schedule an appointment.  View/print list of what to bring to your tax appointment.

How You Can Volunteer

You may volunteer with our program a few hours a week. Please call our office at 401-435-7876 to speak with the coordinator for more information.