In an October 1, 2026 news release, the IRS said its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs are seeking volunteers and community partners to provide free tax preparation services during the upcoming filing season. The programs help eligible taxpayers file tax returns at no cost. The IRS reported that more than 84,500 volunteers helped taxpayers file nearly 2.9 million returns for free in 2026. The agency said volunteers support people in local communities, including seniors, taxpayers with disabilities and residents of rural communities. No prior experience is required to volunteer. The IRS provides free training for a variety of roles, based on volunteers’ skills, interests and available time. Depending on the site, opportunities may include flexible hours and virtual options. Volunteers can include students, retirees and others interested in helping taxpayers. The IRS is also seeking organizations to host or sponsor VITA/TCE sites. It said approximately 9,000 sites were hosted last year by schools, nonprofits, financial institutions, faith-based groups and other organizations. Community partnerships can help extend access to free tax preparation services in underserved communities. Individuals and organizations interested in participating can submit the VITA/TCE volunteer and partner sign-up form. Organizations interested in becoming partners will be contacted by an IRS relationship manager to discuss next steps and answer questions. Interested volunteers will receive information about available local sites and an invitation to a virtual orientation approximately 14 days after submitting their interest. The IRS encourages volunteers to sign up between October and January. Additional information is available on the IRS Tax Volunteers page at IRS.gov. The release does not describe tax law changes or changes to eligibility for VITA or TCE services; it focuses on recruiting volunteers and community partners for the upcoming filing season.