VITA in Los Angeles

VITA is closed for the 2013 tax season. Please visit us again next year!

In 2013, we completed our second tax season for the Los Angeles community, where our 14 volunteers worked with 102 people to file nearly 225 federal and state returns. (In 2011, our volunteers helped 51 people to file 105 federal and state returns). Throughout the season we had a volunteer crew of tax preparers, greeters and intake specialists. VITA served AEA, SAG-AFTRA, IASTE and DGA members. We hope to expand our volunteer base and offer more days of operation next year. A very large thank you to Mary Lou Westerfield of Actors’ Equity Association whose contribution in tax knowledge and many donated hours of man power made this year’s VITA site possible.

The Entertainment Industry  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program provides free income tax preparation to low and moderate income entertainment industry individuals and families. IRS Certified volunteers receive training to help prepare returns. Our goal is to ensure that all individuals and families claim their possible tax refund and take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit that can often be overlooked.  VITA is  hosted at The Actors Fund and is supported in part by contributions from AEA,SAG-AFTRA, SAG Foundation and IATSE to assist their members. Volunteers go through an IRS certification process to be eligible to prepare taxes with clients. None of the Volunteers are paid to provide this assistance. Please review the eligibly criteria below and assess if you are a candidate to use this program next year.

Please keep in mind for next year's service, you must meet the following eligibility criteria and be able to provide the following documents. You will NOT be seen unless you are able to provide the following:

• Proof that in the last calendar year you are a low to moderate income earner
• Union card
• Photo ID
• Copy or DVD of last year’s tax return

VITA CANNOT PREPARE your return if you have the following types of income or assets:

• mutal funds or stocks - K-1’s; no gains or losses from stocks mutual funds or investments
• partnerships
• corporations
• rental income
• LLC
• foreign income, or received money from foreign savings, or any interest in foreign properties.

If you just have an IRA we can prepare your taxes.

If you have these types of needs on your tax return need, please know you will be turned away at your appointment. There are no exceptions.

Neither the Volunteers nor their sponsoring unions receive remuneration for the assistance you are receiving. They are NOT LEGALLY LIABLE FOR THE RETURNS IN ANY WAY. Responsibility for the accuracy and completeness rests solely with the person(s) filing the returns. Should the return(s) be selected for audit by the IRS or any state agency, you will need to seek professional tax representation. VITA will not be able to represent you in this process.

Volunteering to Become a VITA tax preparer
We would love for you to join the team of fantastic volunteers making a difference in entertainment industry professionals lives!  To become an VITA tax preparer volunteer please contact Tina Hookom, LCSW- Director of Social Services – Western Region The Actors Fund 323.330.2413 or thookom@actorsfund.org. To become a volunteer tax preparer there are certifications required to pass before you can prepare taxes.