Free Tax Filing in San Antonio: The Year-Round Clinic, VITA Sites and What to Bring
San Antonio's free tax help doesn't stop when tax season ends. The City runs a year-round clinic for back taxes and amended returns through October 30, and one drop-off site stays open all year. Here's where to go, what to bring, and how to be ready when the full VITA network reopens in January.
AT A GLANCE
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Start with the City's year-round clinic
Most people think of free tax help as a spring service. San Antonio's Department of Human Services also runs a Year-Round Clinic for people who still need to file a past year's return or fix one they already filed. The City says it runs from May 1 through October 30, by appointment only.
To book, call 210-207-6575 or 210-207-1712. Vitasa.org, the coalition's site list, shows an appointment-only location at 1302 N. Zarzamora St. that uses the same 210-207-6575 number. That site is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you're reading this in late October, call now. After October 30, the clinic window closes until the regular season starts in mid-January.
The VITA Program provides free income tax return preparation to eligible taxpayers.
Why an old return can still be worth filing
You may have skipped a year because you didn't think you owed anything. That year could still have a refund waiting, including the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, which the City says VITA helps working families claim. The IRS generally limits refund claims to the later of:
3 years from the date you filed the return. A return filed before its due date counts as filed on the due date.
2 years from the date you paid the tax.
After that, you can't get the refund unless an exception applies. One exception: people affected by a federally declared disaster may get up to one more year. If you need to fix a return you already filed, the IRS says Form 1040-X can be e-filed for the current year and the two years before it.
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Sites that stay open all year
Vitasa.org lists the sites below for the 2026 season, which covered tax year 2025. Hours are marked "subject to availability," so call 2-1-1 before you go.
Location | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
1801 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd. | All year: Mon–Fri 12–6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Drop-off only; closed Sundays and holidays |
1801 Martin Luther King Blvd. (St. Artemesia Bowden Building, 322 Meerscheidt St., 78203) | All year: Mon and Tue 12–4 p.m. | Can process military returns; closed Fridays |
1302 N. Zarzamora St. | Tue–Thu 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Appointments required: (210) 207-6575 |
Sites that open only during tax season
These locations ran from January 20 to April 15, 2026, and closed after that. The 2027 list hasn't been posted yet.
Location | Last season's notes |
|---|---|
2805 E. Commerce St. | Jan 20–Apr 15, 2026 |
3014 Rivas | Jan 20–Apr 15, 2026 |
7978 W. Military Dr., 78227 | Jan 20–Apr 15, 2026 |
13330 Kyle Seale Pkwy., 78249 | Curbside service only |
1400 W. Villaret (Portable 1, across the parking lot from Ozuna Library) | Seasonal |
2507 NW 36th St., 78228 | Opened Jan 31, 2026; Saturdays only |
4618 Thousand Oaks Dr. | Sundays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed Easter) |
1904 N. Llano St., Fredericksburg | By appointment: 830-997-9756 |
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Who runs it and how many people it serves
VITA in San Antonio is a partnership of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, Catholic Charities and the City. As of March 3, 2026, United Way reported that the season had:
Filed taxes for 8,000+ households
Connected filers to $16.4 million in refunds
Saved residents $1.89 million in tax-preparation fees
United Way says every VITA volunteer must complete 20 hours of training and pass an IRS exam. Each location offers services in Spanish. The IRS adds that every return prepared at a VITA site gets a quality review before it's filed.
What the income limit means
The City, United Way and vitasa.org all advertise free preparation for households earning up to $65,000. Nationally, the IRS doesn't set one limit for VITA. Individual sites can set their own, and the IRS says many serve people who generally make about $70,244 or less. People with disabilities and people who speak limited English can also get help. If you're 60 or older, the IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly program focuses on pension and retirement questions.
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What to bring
Before you call
☐ Driver's license or other government photo ID, for you and your spouse if you file jointly
☐ Social Security card or ITIN for everyone on the return
☐ Birth dates for you, your spouse and your dependents
☐ W-2s from all employers, plus any 1099-R, SSA-1099, W-2G, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV or 1099-G (unemployment)
☐ Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health coverage. If it's missing, vitasa.org says to call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596.
☐ Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
☐ Last year's return, if you have it
☐ Child care receipts showing the provider's ID number, and Form 1098-T if you paid tuition
No driver's license? The IRS's checklist accepts other original photo IDs, including a state ID, school ID, employer ID, military ID, national ID, visa or passport. If you're applying for an ITIN, bring proof of foreign status.
Married filing jointly? Both spouses must be there to sign. The City, vitasa.org and the IRS all say this.
Extra documents for some situations
If you... | Bring |
|---|---|
Paid mortgage interest or property taxes | Form 1098 and your property tax statement or receipt |
Paid student loan interest | Form 1098-E |
Have big medical bills or gave to charity | Detailed receipts |
Don't have your W-2 or 1099 | An IRS income transcript, if you have one (see our guide below) |
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Want to give back?
San Antonio's coalition needs volunteers every season. You don't have to be a tax professional: the City says volunteers give their time and expertise, and United Way says each one completes 20 hours of training and passes an IRS exam before preparing returns. To sign up for the 2027 season, call the City's volunteer line at 210-222-2975 or visit vitasa.org.
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Watch for one common scam
Vitasa.org's notice is worth repeating: the IRS will not call you to demand you return money supposedly sent to you by mistake. If someone calls saying you owe back a refund and must pay right away, hang up. Then check your IRS account or ask at a VITA site.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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Related help
New to free filing? Our guide to IRS Free File and VITA explains your options. If a form never arrived, see what to do about a missing W-2 or 1099. For rent, utility and other local help, see our San Antonio financial help guides.
Official sources
Last checked: October 23, 2026. Site hours are from the 2026 season; confirm 2027 locations on vitasa.org or by calling 2-1-1 in January.
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