*No appointments will be made over the phone. They MUST be made in person during intake hours.*
What is VITA?
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a free tax preparation service for individuals and families who qualify based on income and other IRS guidelines. Through VITA, trained and IRS-certified volunteers help prepare and electronically file federal and state tax returns, making sure filers receive the credits they’ve earned, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, when eligible. The goal is simple: help people file accurately, avoid high fees, and keep more of their refund.
Why we do VITA?
At Salina Area United Way, we believe financial security is a foundation for a stronger community. VITA is one way we put that mission into action, by helping individuals and families keep more of what they earn, reduce financial stress, and avoid costly tax preparation fees. Our VITA services are completely free for all clients who meet the income limits from, the IRS. When neighbors receive the refunds and credits they qualify for, those dollars go right back into rent, groceries, utilities, childcare, and savings, strengthening households and our local economy. Simply put, we sponsor VITA because it helps families move forward and help, our community thrive, The United Way.
VITA Intake is ran from February 2nd - April 8th, 2026. No appointments are needed for intake.
First come, first served!
Required VITA Documents:
- Original photo identification for you and your spouse (if married/filing jointly)
- Social Security Cards for you, you spouse and dependents
- Wage, earnings, interest and dividend statements from any income received
- Forms 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement banks
- Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check
- Copy of previous years taxes
To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms
For a complete detailed list of documents, click here.
Location:
The McKenzie Center
308 W Elm St., Salina, KS 67401
Dates:
Feb. 2nd - April 8th 2026
Monday 9:00 AM - 1:00PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 1:00PM
Wednesday 1:00PM - 5:00 PM
*No appointments will be made over the phone. They MUST be made in person during intake hours.*
VITA Process
Intake is on a first come first serve basis!
Bring all tax related documents to our intake location. Complete the intake forms on site and provide required documents (checklist) to the volunteers. If you would prefer to do an intake form ahead of time, they are available for at home printing HERE.
Doors will be locked outside of intake hours.
At intake, once you have the intake form and all required documents, take your paperwork to our volunteers so we can make copies and confirm we have everything that is needed. We will schedule an appointment for you with an IRS-certified volunteer to review you taxes.
Before your appointment, an IRS-certified tax preparer reviews your information and prepares your return. A second certified volunteer completes a quality check to ensure accuracy before anything is filed.
During your appointment, a certified volunteer will walk through your return with you for a final review. After you approve the return, we’ll electronically file your return and provide confirmation. All documents collected through the process will be returned to you at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
To schedule an appointment with the Salina Area United Ways VITA Program, start by completing our intake steps (link here). Once your documents are confirmed complete during the intake review process, we will schedule an appointment with you at that time.
NOTE: We do NOT make appointments over the phone. Only in person at our intake review site (The McKenzie Center)
Salina Area United Way’s VITA services are provided at The MCKENZIE Center in Salina, KS for 2026. Appointments are available during the tax season on select days and times based on volunteer availability.
Please check our current schedule and hours here: link to dates/times).
Yes. Taxpayer(s) must be present to complete the intake process at our VITA Site so we can verify identity, review required documents, and ensure all information is accurate. You must also be present in person for your scheduled appointment to complete the final review, provide signatures/authorization, and electronically file your return.
The intake step can be quick when all documents are ready, but it may take longer if anything is missing or needs clarification. Because we are a first-come, first-served site, wait times can vary and lines may be longer at peak times while scheduling appointments.
Once your documents are complete and verified, your scheduled appointment is typically about 15 minutes. Appointments are in-person, and you must be present so we can complete the final review and electronically file your return.
Your return is prepared and reviewed by trained, IRS-certified VITA volunteers. Every return goes through a multi-step process, including a quality review by another certified volunteer before filing. This helps ensure your return is accurate and complete.
We store documents securely under lock and key to protect taxpayer information. We return all original documents at the end of your scheduled appointment, once you have reviewed your return and signed the final authorization to file, unless we specifically arrange a different return time with you. Once your documents are returned, we do not keep any original taxpayer documents. All documents are returned to the tax filer.
Refund timing depends on the IRS/KDOR and your situation. For federal returns, once the IRS processes your return, HERE. will show your status and when available, a personalized refund date.
Direct deposit is typically faster than receiving a refund by mail.
Note: The federal government is transitioning away from paper checks, so choosing direct deposit is strongly recommended whenever possible.
Please print your W-2s (and other tax forms) before intake if possible. Digital copies are fine only if they’re complete, clear, and readable.
We do not accept cropped or screenshot-only. If you can download the official PDF from your employer/payroll portal, that’s best.
(If you’re unsure, bring what you have, and we’ll tell you if it’s usable.)
Yes. If you missed your appointment or need to reschedule, please contact us as soon as possible so we can open that time for another client and get you placed into the next available slot. (785-827-1312)
**Reschedules are based on first come first serve. **
At SAUW’s VITA site, we can prepare basic federal and Kansas income tax returns, including common credits like Earned Income Credit and Kansas Homestead, when applicable.
If a return includes items that are outside VITA scope (certain complex self-employment situations, inventory/COGS, some specialized filing situations, etc.), we may need to refer you to a paid preparer.
Usually, yes, you don’t have to live in Saline County to use the site. If you qualify and can come to the Salina in-person intake site, we can help. The main limitation is the type of return (basic/in-scope) and having the required documents ready.
VITA is designed to be simple and supportive. You’ll complete a short intake form, provide required documents, and then meet with an IRS-certified volunteer at your scheduled appointment. Your return is prepared and reviewed before filing, and during your appointment we’ll do a final review with you present, electronically file the return, and provide confirmation and next steps for tracking your refund.
We use the recommend software provided but the IRS:
- TaxSlayer (VITA e-file software) for return preparation and electronic filing.
At our VITA site, we can typically prepare and file up to three (3) prior tax years, depending on your situation and having the required documents available.
Please note: refund eligibility for older years may be limited by IRS rules, so we encourage you to file as soon as possible.
Federal refund: Use the IRS Where’s My Refund tool (or the IRS2Go app).
Kansas income tax refund + Kansas Homestead refund: Use KDOR’s Income and Homestead Refund Status checker.
No, our VITA site does not file tax extensions. VITA services are focused on preparing and electronically filing completed tax returns during the filing season. If you think you may need an extension, we recommend filing directly through the IRS (or using a paid preparer) as soon as possible.
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