How to find free tax preparation for veterans
Step-by-step guide to free tax preparation for veterans + military families. 5 paths: MilTax (free for active + recent veterans through Military OneSource), VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance — free for low-income), TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly — for 60+), AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, IRS Free File.
What you'll need
- Tax documents: W-2s, 1099s, 1098s (if applicable), prior-year return
- Photo ID
- Social Security cards for self + dependents
- Veteran-status verification (helpful for claiming credits/deductions)
- Bank account info (for direct deposit refund)
Step-by-step
Step 1: For ACTIVE-DUTY + recent veterans: MilTax (most generous)
MilTax (militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/) is FREE federal + state tax software for active-duty + Reserve + National Guard + recently-separated veterans. Includes 1:1 phone consultations with H&R-Block tax pros at zero cost. Available year-round (not just tax season). Eligibility: active service members + their families + recent veterans (typically within 365 days of separation, with extended periods for some situations).
Reference: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/
Step 2: For low-income veterans: VITA
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) — irs.gov/vita — provides free tax prep for households earning ≤$60K/year. IRS-certified volunteers prepare federal + state returns. Many VITA sites prioritize veteran households. Find VITA sites at irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/ or call 1-800-906-9887. Most VITA sites operate January through April.
Step 3: For 60+ veterans: TCE + AARP Tax-Aide
TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide both provide free tax prep specializing in pension + Social Security + retirement-account distributions common in older veteran households. AARP Tax-Aide doesn't require AARP membership. Find sites at aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
Step 4: For self-filers: IRS Free File
IRS Free File (irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) provides free federal tax software for households earning ≤$79K/year (2024 threshold). State return free if your provider supports it. Best for veterans comfortable using tax software solo with no in-person help. Available January through October.
Step 5: Veteran-specific tax considerations
Critical veteran tax items: (a) VA disability compensation is NOT taxable federally OR by most states — don't report it as income. (b) Military retirement pay IS taxable federally + by some states (state varies — Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, others exempt military retirement). (c) Combat zone pay is partially or fully tax-exempt. (d) GI Bill benefits are NOT taxable. (e) State property tax exemptions for veterans + state income tax exemptions for military retirees vary widely — VITA + MilTax preparers know your state's rules.
Critical tips
- NEVER pay a tax preparer for a basic return if you qualify for MilTax / VITA / TCE / AARP. Paid preparers (TurboTax, H&R Block paid version) often charge $100-$300 for filings the free programs do at zero cost.
- VA disability compensation is NOT taxable. If a paid preparer asks for it as income, that's a sign they don't know veteran tax rules — get a different preparer.
- For state income tax: check warriorsfund.org/state/{your-state} for state veteran tax exemptions. Many states exempt military retirement pay or have additional veteran-specific deductions.
- For state property tax: see /api/v1/howto/get-state-veteran-benefits.json — property tax exemption is often the highest-dollar-value state veteran benefit (Texas 100% rated = $5K-$15K/year savings).
- Combat zone pay tax exemption can apply RETROACTIVELY for several years if you didn't claim it on the original filing — VITA + MilTax preparers know how to amend.