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Clients

Schedule an Appointment

VITA at UCI offers free tax preparation services to people who need assistance in preparing their tax returns, performed by IRS-certified volunteers.

We carefully prepare, review, and explain the tax return with you to ensure accuracy and satisfaction before filing.

*Announcement for Nonresident Aliens*

Form 1042-S (Foreign Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding) is issued to nonresident international students, scholars, and other foreign individuals who received certain types of U.S. income. At UC Irvine (UCI), international students commonly receive a 1042-S if they had:

  • Scholarships or fellowships that exceeded qualified tuition/fees (taxable scholarship income)
  • Income covered by a tax treaty benefit
  • Prizes, awards, stipends, or other non-wage payments subject to nonresident withholding
  • Certain research or training stipends processed through university payroll or accounting

Not every international student will receive this form. For example, students with only wages reported on a W-2 (and no treaty or scholarship reporting) may not get a 1042-S.

Deadline for Issuing Form 1042-S

The IRS deadline for institutions to issue Form 1042-S is March 16 this year. This means international students may receive their form later than other tax documents like W-2s or 1099s.

Important Note for International Students Filing Taxes

International students and other nonresident taxpayers should wait until they receive their 1042-S before scheduling a tax filing appointment or submitting their return. Filing without this form can lead to:

  • Incorrect income reporting
  • Delays or amendments later
  • Potential IRS correspondence or penalties

Waiting ensures your tax return is accurate and complete, especially if scholarship income or treaty benefits apply.

Procedures

  1. Please schedule an appointment at VITA at UCI OnceHub, or by calling 211.
  2. Before you visit, gather all tax documents (See What to Bring)
  3. On your first visit, you’ll be asked to fill out an intake sheet for your basic information and drop off / upload your tax documents (paper or digital copies)
  4. It’ll take 1-2 weeks to prepare your return. We will call/text you when your return is completed.
  5. When your return is completed (1-2 weeks later), you’ll need to visit us again to review, sign, and pick up your documents and tax return. We will e-file1 the tax return after you agree and sign the tax return.

2026 Site Information

Location
SB2 122 (School of Business II, 4291 Pereira Drive, Irvine, CA 92697)

We provide a limited number of free parking spaces in Lot 1 for clients with appointments. Clients who have valid UCI commuter parking permits can generally park for free on Saturday at any general unassigned stall, “P” preferred stalls, and “AR” reserved stalls not marked as “Enforced 24 Hours”. For details on where your permit is valid, please visit UCI Parking Permits.

If you are driving, please navigate to UCI Lot 1 (Google Maps). Do not navigate to the School of Business or 4291 Pereira Drive directly. Enter Pereira Drive from the west side (West Peltason Dr) only, as Lot 1 is inaccessible from the east side (East Peltason Dr).

Directions to Lot 1 Parking
Drive along the red route, park at the yellow square, and then walk along the blue route.
Enter from the WEST side of Pereira Dr (West Peltason Dr)

Google Maps link for Lot 1: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AhxXVGA16EVFnCiT6.
Apple Maps link for Lot 1: https://beta.maps.apple.com/?auid=7326088332429499429&lsp=9902.

To access Lot 1, enter Pereira Dr from W. Peltason Dr. The entrance is at the end of the road on the left-hand side, just before the restricted access area and the gate arm.

Directions to School of Business II

UCI Map: https://map.uci.edu/?id=463#!m/576487?share.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/m471mYEKQKdJq14K9.

Apple Maps: https://beta.maps.apple.com/?auid=15097150223783432990&lsp=9902.

SB2 122 is near the Merage School courtyard, across from School of Business 1 (SB1).

Open dates and time
9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., every Saturday from February 7th to April 4th. Last appointment at 1:30 P.M.
On April 11th, we are only open for tax return pick-ups.

Time required
Depending on the complexity of your tax return and how busy the tax site is, it may take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour to complete the intake process.

Appointments
Please schedule an appointment at VITA at UCI OnceHub, or by calling 211.
Taxpayers drop off the tax documents and return to pick up the tax return 1-2 weeks later.
Please note that you might need to wait before a volunteer serves you, as we have a limited number of volunteers.

Languages
English, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese)

Eligibility

We offer free tax help to people including:
✅ People who generally make $69,000 or less
✅ Persons with disabilities
✅ Limited English-speaking taxpayers
✅ International/non-resident students

✅ People who are 60 years or older

We cannot serve clients with the following:
❌ Prior Year Returns
❌ 1098-T with Box 4 or Box 6 (adjustments) filled in
❌ Certain transactions related to Digital Assets2
❌ 1095-A Dependent Return

❌Complicated Non-California State Returns
❌ No SSN or ITIN
❌ Resident aliens claiming tax treaty benefits
Example: If you are a Resident Alien and want to claim the $5,000 exemption under the US-China Tax Treaty Article 20(c).

❌ Non Resident Alien with 1099-NEC
❌ Kiddie tax
Example: If you are under 24 at the end of 2025 and have more than $2,700 of taxable scholarships4
❌ Rental income
Exception: Rental of personal residence for less than 15 days for the year is not considered a rental activity and is not taxable income unless the taxpayer is in the rental business or cleaning, linen, food, or similar services were provided during the rental period.
❌ Underpayment of Estimated Tax
Example: If you owe more than $1,000 of federal income tax5

See more

❌ Nonresident Aliens with 1099-NEC (self-employment)
❌ Nonresident Aliens claiming lower treaty tax rates for dividend income
❌ Schedule C with loss, depreciation, or business use of home
❌ Net operating loss deduction
❌ Complicated Schedule D (capital gains and losses)
❌ Form 8606 (non-deductible IRA)
❌ Form 8814 (child taxed at parent’s tax rate)
❌ Form SS-8 (determination of worker status for purposes of federal employment taxes and income tax withholding)
❌ Parts 4 & 5 of Form 8962 (Allocation of Policy Amounts, Alternative Calculation for Year of Marriage)
❌ Returns with casualty/disaster losses

The list is not exhaustive. Please check Publication 4012 (irs.gov) Page 8, Scope of Service, for more information.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

What to Bring

  • (For married filing joint, both spouses must be present)
  • (Paper or electronic copies are accepted, except for Photo ID)
  • Original government-issued Photo ID (Driver’s License/State ID/Passport) for you and your spouse (if applicable)
  • Social Security Card or ITIN letter for anyone listed on tax return, including dependents
  • Income-related documents (Form W-2s, 1099s, …)
  • Health insurance coverage statement (Form 1095-A, B, or C). See California Health Insurance Mandate.
  • If any, proof of educational-related expenses (Form 1098-T, E, …)
  • If any, proof of day-care payments (and provider’s tax ID number)
  • If any, information for all deductions (including charitable contributions and credits)
  • For direct deposit of refund, proof of account and bank’s routing number (voided check or bank app)
  • A copy of last year’s tax return, if available

International/non-resident students should bring the following in addition to the above:

  • I-20
  • Passport and Visa
  • Form 1042-S, if applicable

Note

  1. In certain cases, your tax return may have to be mailed.
    For example,
    (a) married non-resident alien status,
    (b) certain amended returns,
    (c) etc. ↩︎
  2. OK if you
    (a) held no virtual currency for the tax year or if the taxpayer’s only transactions involving virtual currency during the tax year were purchases of virtual currency with real currency,
    (b) held virtual currency in a wallet or account,
    (c) transferred virtual currency from one wallet or account they own or control to another that they own or control, OR
    (d) received virtual currency as an inheritance or gift. ↩︎
  3. In certain cases, you may not be required to pay kiddie tax. Please refer to Instructions for Form 8615. ↩︎
  4. In certain cases, you may not be required to file Form 2210. Please refer to the flowchart in Form 2210. ↩︎