Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

This page is part of the LOVE Columbia information library website. To contact the organization listed below, please follow links or phone numbers given within the article.
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Listed below are several organizations hosting volunteer income tax assistance.
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University of Missouri students in the department of Personal Financial Planning are trained and IRS-certified to provide this free service to individuals in the Columbia community, primarily for people with low to moderate incomes, those with disabilities, the elderly and English-as-a-second-language taxpayers.

Starting Jan. 26, 2026, VITA services will be provided at the on a walk-in/first-come-first-served basis at the following dates and times:

Mondays 9 am – 1 pm
Wednesdays 4 pm – 8 pm
No services March 21-29 due to Spring Break
Last day of services is Apr. 15, 2026

MU Family Impact Center
105 East Ash St Suite 200
Columbia, MO 65203
Visit website
Be sure to bring:

• Photo Identification for you and your spouse (if applicable)

• Social Security cards for every person listed on the return

• W-2s for every job worked

• Routing and account number for direct deposit (if desired)

• The amount of any stimulus received or not received

• Last year's tax return (optional, but helpful)

If you have these forms, please bring them:

• 1099-Interest

• 1099-Dividends

• 1099-R Retirement income

• 1098 Mortgage interest

• 1099-NEC Nonemployee compensation

• 1099-MISC Other income

• 1098-E Student loan interest

• 1098-T Tuition and your account statement

• 1099-G Unemployment

• 1099-G State refund

• 1099-B Broker exchange

• SSA 1099 Social Security income

• 1095-A Marketplace Statement

• W-2G Gambling income

• Form 5674 Verification of Rent Paid, signed by your landlord

• Real estate and personal property tax receipt

• Childcare expenses and the name, address, and tax ID of the provider

• Identity Protection PIN from the IRS for everyone who has one in your family

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Free Income Tax Help 2026 at the Columbia Public Library (for in-state returns only)

The library will begin to take appointments for the VITA tax help service on Friday, January 16, and the program will run January 30 – April 13, 2026. Call (573) 443-3161 to make an appointment. Appointments will be scheduled during open hours at the Columbia Public Library.

The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free basic tax help to people who earn less than $67K ($134K for married filing jointly) as well as those who are elderly, have disabilities or limited English skills. 

There are some tax returns that cannot be filed through VITA. Please ask if you have questions.

If you have an appointment with VITA tax help, please bring the following items with you to your appointment.

1. Copy of the most recently filed tax return

2.  Identification

   • A photo ID for the taxpayer

   • Social Security cards and/or ITIN notices and birth dates for every individual on your return.

3. Income

   • W-2 for each employer and other income-related documents

   • Social Security, railroad retirement or veteran’s benefits

   • All 1099 forms (1099-G, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.)

   • Personal business income and expenses

4. Deductions

   • Dependent care provider info

   • Education 1098-T and student loan payments

   • 1098 form showing home mortgage interest

   • Health insurance and out-of-pocket medical costs

   • Long-term care insurance receipts

   • Property tax receipts and tax receipts for new car purchase

   • Charity receipts

5. Health Insurance

   • Marketplace health insurance form 1095A

   • Income documents for all household members whether claimed as dependent or not, including students living at college, even if they had no coverage for all or part of 2025.

6. Property Tax Credit or Rent Credit

   • Real Estate tax receipt or rent verification letter with landlord’s name, address and phone number (MO Form 5674)

   • For mobile homes, property tax receipt and rent verification letter with landlord’s name, address and phone number (MO Form 5674)

7. For Direct Deposit Tax Refunds

   • Tax refunds now require direct deposit. (The IRS will no longer mail out paper checks.)

   • Checkbook, blank check or account statement showing account number and routing number (not deposit slips or credit/debit card)

Appointments are limited and will be scheduled during select open hours at the Columbia Public Library on Mondays and Wednesday-Saturday. The service is subject to change based on weather conditions and availability of our volunteers. The free income tax service is through the VITA program, an IRS affiliate. Tax counselors are unpaid volunteers that are IRS certified.
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AARP Tax Help at Salvation Army, 2025

Provided by AARP Foundation volunteers
Salvation Army on Ash Street
1108 W Ash St
Columbia, MO 65203
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Tax help starts February 3 and continues through April 15 by appointment only. Call (573) 227-3325 to make an appointment.
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IRS Websites
File Your Federal Taxes Online for Free
Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers
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