MMCDC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance History
We began offering free tax services in partnership with AARP Tax Aid back in 2005. We launched an independent Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site on White Earth Indian Reservation, in Northwest Minnesota in 2007. In 2008, at the peak of the refund anticipation loan business, we offered an alternative low-cost Refund Anticipation Loan through a partnership with Prepare + Prosper, formerly AccountAbility Minnesota. In that year we expanded from providing services for 380 taxpayers to 522 taxpayers. That site averages 450 returns a filing season in Mahnomen, MN a town of 1,000 people. In 2016, we opened Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services in Coachella Valley, California, completing 117 returns. In 2017, we prepared 163 returns at California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus. Also, we launched our new name, Coachella Valley Community Tax Services. We are members of Center for Nonprofit Advancement and the Taxpayer Opportunity Network.
In 2018, we prepared 205 tax returns in three community locations, California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus, Cathedral City Senior Center, La Quinta Wellness Center.
In 2019, we prepared 537 tax returns in four community locations, the Coachella Library building, CSU San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, COD Indio Campus, La Quinta Wellness Center.
During 2020 and 2021, we prepared 745 returns at the Coachella library building and La Quinta Wellness Center locations as well as virtually in partnership with GetYourRefund.org.
