CSET Needs Volunteers for Free Tax Assistance Program

Community Services Employment Training (CSET) is recruiting local volunteers to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

VITA provides tax preparation and electronic filing services at no cost to Tulare County households with less than $69,000 annual income.

In 2025, VITA preparers helped file 4,217 tax returns for low and moderate-income residents, returning more than $5.4 million to Tulare and Kings County residents.

For the 2025 VITA tax season, approximately 100 volunteers will be needed to serve as IRS certified tax preparers.

“CSET is looking forward to providing valuable free tax preparation for our local families,” said Community Initiatives Division Director Raquel Gomez. “We are excited to provide this important service for the 18th consecutive year to Kings and Tulare County residents.”

No prior experience is necessary to become a VITA volunteer. With your assistance, local families in Tulare County will be informed about eligible cash-back tax credits, such as the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Retired financial professionals, as well as adults and high school youth exploring careers in the finance industry would serve as excellent volunteers.

Bilingual volunteers are especially needed for this upcoming tax season.

CSET’s VITA program will conduct volunteer training in person in Visalia and Porterville, and online for the 2025 tax season. Training will take place during the month of January 2026, and the free tax preparation drop-off services will be offered to the public beginning February 2026.

VITA volunteers will be providing tax preparation services in five primary locations: Earlimart, Orosi, Porterville, Tulare and Visalia.

For more information and to apply online, visit http://www.cset.org/vita.

Interested volunteers may also contact Homer Ruiz at (559) 741-4641 or Homer.Ruiz@cset.org; or Alejandra Flores at (559) 946-6331 or Alejandra.Flores@cset.org.