Washington, DC Free Tax Prep 2027: Community Tax Aid, AARP Tax-Aide, the 100% DC EITC and What to Bring
If you live in DC and earned under about $69,000, you can have your federal and DC tax returns done for free by IRS-certified volunteers. It's worth doing, because the District's own Earned Income Tax Credit matched 100% of the federal credit for tax year 2025, and you only get it if you file a DC return.
This guide covers the main free tax prep programs in the District, who they serve, the documents to bring, and how the DC EITC works. The 2027 filing-season sites and hours haven't been announced yet, so we've used last season's lineup as a guide and flagged it.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking's Free Tax Preparation Sites page (last updated February 3, 2026); Legal Aid DC's "2026 Free Tax Return Prep" flyer; the DC Office of Tax and Revenue's DC EITC page; and the IRS page on free tax return preparation. Site schedules below are from the 2026 season. Most programs repeat year to year, but confirm days, hours and income limits when the 2027 season opens. Last season, most sites opened in early February.
The Short Version
Who qualifies: DC residents earning $69,000 or less (the 2026-season limit), with a tax situation volunteers are trained to handle.
Main provider: Community Tax Aid (CTA), (202) 830-1480, with sites in Northwest, Northeast and Southeast.
Over 50? AARP Tax-Aide helps anyone free of charge, with a focus on older, low- to moderate-income taxpayers, at about a dozen DC library and rec center locations.
Prefer to do it remotely? DISB points to GetYourRefund.org for free virtual help from certified volunteers.
Don't skip the DC return: the DC EITC was 100% of the federal EITC for 2025, and ITIN filers can qualify even if they can't get the federal credit.
Most sites need an appointment. Call early.
Who Can Use Free Tax Prep
DISB's page says IRS-certified volunteers will prepare and e-file your federal and DC returns at no cost if:
your household earned less than $69,000, and
your tax situation is within the scope of what volunteers are trained and certified to do.
Legal Aid DC's flyer uses the same limit, worded as "$69,000 or less." The IRS's own Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program sets its general limit nationally each year, and individual sites can vary, so the DC limit for 2027 may be adjusted.
Volunteers usually can't handle every situation. If you own rental property, have a complicated business, or have other unusual items, ask when you book.
Community Tax Aid Sites (2026 Season)
Legal Aid DC's flyer says many local free tax sites are sponsored by Community Tax Aid. For 2026 it listed:
MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, 2nd floor: every day except Friday. Help in Chinese, English and Spanish. Book through CTA at (202) 830-1480.
East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, 3925 Minnesota Ave. NE: Saturdays. Book through CTA.
Jubilee Jobs, 2712 Ontario Rd. NW: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. English and Spanish. Book through CTA.
CTA at Edgewood Terrace, 601 Edgewood St. NE, Suite 10: Sundays. (202) 838-7798.
CTA at United Planning Organization, Petey Green Center, 2907 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Anacostia: Monday through Thursday and Saturday. English and Spanish. (202) 231-7903.
CTA at Howard University, 2600 6th St. NW: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (202) 838-7798.
Other Volunteer Sites (2026 Season)
Nigerian Center Inc., 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 2049: Wednesdays and Thursdays. The flyer says no appointment is required. DISB listed this site as running into December 2026.
George Washington University School of Business, 2201 G St. NW: Saturdays and Sundays. (202) 994-9316.
University of the District of Columbia VITA Club, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW: Saturdays. English and Spanish. (771) 201-0495.
AARP Tax-Aide in DC
Legal Aid DC's flyer says AARP Tax-Aide helps anyone free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers over 50 with low to moderate income. You don't have to be an AARP member. The 2026 DC locations included:
Anacostia Library, SE (Tue, Wed): (202) 656-1689
Armed Forces Retirement Home, NW (Tue): (202) 642-9037
Capitol View Library, SE (Mon, Wed, Sat): (202) 643-4845
Chevy Chase Community Center, NW (Mon, Wed): book online, in person or by e-mail
Emery Heights Community Center (Tue, Thu): (202) 643-9263
Francis A. Gregory Library, SE (Wed, Sat): (202) 417-6213
Georgetown Library, NW (Wed, Fri), French and English: (202) 677-5057
Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library, NE (Mon, Wed): (202) 656-1341
Petworth Library, NW (Mon, Fri): (202) 656-1341
Shaw Library, NW (Sat): (202) 683-7397
Southwest Library, SW (Mon, Wed, Sat): (202) 656-0042
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, NE (Tue, Thu): (202) 643-9519
William O. Lockridge Bellevue Library, SW (Sat): (202) 643-4279
Woodridge Library, NE (Mon, Wed): (202) 643-4279
The AARP Foundation's site locator at aarp.org lists current sites and lets you book once the season opens.
Virtual and Do-It-Yourself Options
GetYourRefund.org: DISB lists it as a way to work with certified volunteers virtually.
IRS Free File: DISB also points to the IRS Free File page for preparing and e-filing federal and DC returns on your own.
IRS VITA locator: irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep finds IRS-sponsored sites near you, and DISB recommends checking it for the latest information.
What to Bring
DISB's checklist:
Unexpired photo ID for you, and your spouse if filing jointly
Social Security card, Social Security statement or ITIN letter for everyone on the return, unless you're applying for an ITIN
Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health coverage
Your IP PIN letter if the IRS issued you an Identity Protection PIN
Any other letters from the IRS, DC or another state tax agency
Income forms: W-2, 1099-G, 1099-NEC, 1099-R, 1099-SSA. If one hasn't arrived by the end of January, contact your employer or payer.
Income without a form: a list of cash payments, or login details for gig or payment apps such as Uber, Lyft or DoorDash
Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Child care costs you paid and weren't reimbursed for, with each provider's tax ID, name, address and phone number
Last year's tax return, if you have it
The DC Earned Income Tax Credit
The DC Office of Tax and Revenue says the DC EITC is a refundable credit, so you can get money back even if you owe no DC income tax. For tax year 2025, it equaled 100% of your federal EITC. OTR hadn't posted the 2026 tax-year rate when we checked.
Who qualifies
Generally, if you qualify for the federal EITC, you qualify for the DC EITC. Claim it on Form D-40.
ITIN filers: OTR says you may qualify if you have a valid ITIN and meet every other federal rule except having a Social Security number.
DC-only expansions: OTR says some residents qualify for the DC credit even if they don't qualify federally. The D-40 instructions explain who.
Monthly payments
If your DC EITC refund is $1,200 or more, OTR says you can choose to get it in 12 equal monthly payments instead of all at once. OTR notes that monthly payments may affect eligibility for benefits like SNAP, so think it through, or ask your volunteer preparer, before choosing.
OTR's general phone line is (202) 727-4829.
Tips for a Smooth Appointment
Book early. Legal Aid DC's flyer says most sites require appointments.
Bring everyone's ID numbers. DISB's list calls for a Social Security card, statement or ITIN letter for every person on the return.
File even if you don't owe. The flyer reminds readers that you must file to get your refund, the child tax credit or the EITC.
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