Los Angeles Free Tax Prep 2027: Free Tax Prep LA, the 19 FamilySource Center Sites and What to Bring
Every year, Los Angeles households leave a lot of money unclaimed. The City of Los Angeles estimates that about 1 in 5 eligible Angelenos don't file or don't know they qualify for tax credits, leaving up to $579 million unclaimed each year. Paying a preparer can eat into whatever refund you do get.
Free Tax Prep LA (FTPLA), run with the city's Community Investment for Families Department, connects residents to IRS-certified volunteers who prepare returns for free. The program says it has helped more than 200,000 Angelenos claim over $300 million in refunds and credits since it started.
This guide covers who qualifies, where to go, what to bring, and the filing changes to know before the 2027 season.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department (2026 season announcement, FAQ and FamilySource Center tax site list); LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs' VITA page; the IRS's VITA/TCE program page and document checklist; and the California Franchise Tax Board's CalEITC page. This is general information, not tax advice.
The Short Version
Who: generally, people who file simple returns and earn $69,000 or less a year (the 2026-season limit). LA County says VITA is also available to people with disabilities and limited-English speakers.
Where: 100+ VITA locations across the city and county, including all 19 City of LA FamilySource Centers during tax season.
Find a site: freetaxprepla.com. To book at a FamilySource Center, call the center directly.
Cost: free, including e-filing.
Big changes: IRS Direct File is gone, the IRS no longer issues paper refund checks, and new Child Tax Credit rules require a parent's Social Security number.
The city updates income limits each season, so confirm the 2027 limit on freetaxprepla.com when the season opens.
Who Qualifies
The city's FAQ describes VITA as free tax help for people who file simple returns and earn $69,000 or less a year, with volunteers providing "free basic and limited advanced" return preparation and e-filing. LA County's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs uses the same $69,000 guideline and notes that VITA also serves people with disabilities and limited-English taxpayers.
The IRS says it doesn't set one program-wide income limit, and individual sites may set their own. If you're near the line, call a site before you go.
Don't skip filing just because your income is low. The city's FAQ points out that even if you don't earn enough to be required to file, you may still get money back through the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. It says California credits like the Young Child Tax Credit and Foster Youth Tax Credit can be worth up to $1,189 even if you have no income to report.
Where to Go: The 19 FamilySource Center Tax Sites
During tax season, all 19 of the City of Los Angeles's FamilySource Centers operate as VITA sites. The city says to call the number listed for your closest center to book an appointment.
All Peoples Community Center, Los Angeles 90011
Barrio Action Youth & Family Center, 4927 Huntington Dr. N, Los Angeles 90032
Bresee Foundation, 184 S. Bimini Place, Los Angeles 90004
Central City Neighborhood Partners, Koreatown, 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 460, Los Angeles 90010
Central City Neighborhood Partners, Westlake, 501 S. Bixel St., Los Angeles 90017
El Centro de Amistad, 566 S. Brand Blvd., San Fernando 91340
El Centro de Ayuda, 2130 E. 1st St., Suite 110, Los Angeles 90033
El Centro del Pueblo, 1157 Lemoyne St., Los Angeles 90026
El Nido Family Center, Pacoima, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd., Unit 4, Pacoima 91331
El Nido Family Center, South LA, 2069 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles 90047
Koreatown Youth + Community Center (KYCC), 1230 Menlo Ave., Suite 100, Los Angeles 90006
Latino Resource Organization, 6736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. #360, North Hollywood 91606
New Economics for Women, Canoga Park, 21400 Saticoy St., 2nd floor, Canoga Park 91304
New Economics for Women, Van Nuys, 6946 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 220, Van Nuys 91405
The Children's Collective, Inc., 915 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles 90044
Toberman Neighborhood Center, 131 N. Grand Ave., San Pedro 90731
West Adams/Leimert Park FamilySource Center, 4305 Degnan Blvd., Suite 105, Los Angeles 90008
Watts Labor Community Action Committee, 1212 E. 108th St., Los Angeles 90059
Watts Labor Community Action Committee, South LA, 5860 Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles 90011
For sites outside the city, including county locations, use the finder at freetaxprepla.com. Nationally, the IRS VITA locator is at 800-906-9887, and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which runs most Tax Counseling for the Elderly sites, can be reached at 888-227-7669.
Prefer to File Yourself?
LA County's consumer affairs department points to MyFreeTaxes.org, a United Way service that lets households earning less than $69,000 file both federal and California returns for free. Some IRS VITA sites also offer self-prep, where you use free software with a certified volunteer available to help. Look for "Self-Prep" in the site listing.
The IRS Direct File pilot is no longer available, according to the city's 2026 announcement.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
The IRS checklist for free tax sites includes:
Photo ID for you and your spouse, if filing jointly
Social Security cards for you, your spouse and dependents, or ITIN letters for anyone without an SSN
Income statements: W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, and SSA-1099 if you get Social Security
Bank interest and dividend statements (Form 1099)
Last year's federal and state returns, if you have them
Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check
Both spouses must be present to sign a married filing jointly e-filed return. Free Tax Prep LA keeps its own full document list at freetaxprepla.org/help.
Tax Credits Worth Checking
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). City officials note it can be worth thousands of dollars for working families.
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). The Franchise Tax Board says it was worth up to $3,756 for tax year 2025 for working families and individuals earning up to $32,900. You can generally claim it for up to four prior years by filing or amending a state return.
Young Child Tax Credit and Foster Youth Tax Credit. These California credits can pay out even with no reportable income, according to the city FAQ.
Child Tax Credit. Starting with tax year 2025, at least one parent must have a Social Security number to claim it. City tax experts warned this could disqualify some families who qualified before, including mixed-status households.
Will a refund hurt my benefits? The city FAQ says that in most cases tax credits don't affect eligibility for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, TANF or subsidized housing, and the refund isn't counted as extra income for those programs.
Changes to Plan For in 2027
Experts at the city's 2026 kickoff event offered this advice:
File early to avoid delays, identity theft and missed credits.
Recheck your eligibility for CalEITC and the Child Tax Credit, since income limits have changed.
Set up direct deposit before you file. The IRS no longer issues paper refund checks.
Use a free, IRS-certified VITA volunteer instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a simple return.
If you don't have a bank account, open one before tax season so your federal refund isn't delayed.
Missed a Year? Got an IRS Letter?
Past-year returns: the city FAQ says you generally have three years after the filing deadline to file or change a return and claim credits. In 2026, that meant returns going back to 2023.
IRS problems: a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic can help for free. The city lists KYCC's Low Income Tax Clinic at (213) 232-2700 for a free consultation.
Complicated situation? The city suggests booking an appointment at your nearest FTPLA site, which can double as a consultation.
Closing Thoughts
If your household earns under about $69,000, you can get your return done for free by a certified volunteer, and you may qualify for federal and California credits worth thousands. Gather your documents in January, set up direct deposit, book early at a FamilySource Center or through freetaxprepla.com, and don't overlook past years you may have missed.
Comments