Tax-Aid

What Tax-Aid does

Tax-Aid is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1988 that delivers free federal and California state tax preparation services to low-income households earning under approximately $69,000 per year. The organization operates two delivery channels: in-person tax preparation sites staffed by professional volunteers, and a Virtual Tax Service that supports remote intake questionnaires and secure document upload through a web-based portal. Services are offered in English, Spanish, and Chinese, and include specialized assistance with ITIN applications, federal and California Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit claims, student loan forgiveness guidance, and economic impact payments. The organization also runs workforce development programs, including an Equity Fellowship and youth employment pipelines through partners such as MYEEP and New Door Ventures.

The operating model is donation- and grant-funded rather than fee-based: there is no parent company, no equity, and no fee-for-service revenue stream. Service delivery depends on a volunteer base of more than 900 individuals annually, including certified public accountants and tax professionals from partner firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, Hemming Morse, and JPMorgan Chase. Internal staffing is small — 1-10 employees — led by Executive Director Jill Sturm, with board representation from senior partners at KPMG and JPMorgan Chase Private Bank. Client-facing technology consists of the multi-language web questionnaire and a client status tracking portal; there is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capability.

In the 2025 season Tax-Aid produced approximately $1.59 million in refunds across 2,545 returns, following roughly $2 million in refunds across 2,266 returns in 2024. The organization has expanded its footprint from a Bay Area–only operation to statewide California through virtual delivery enabled by pandemic-era digital infrastructure, positioning it as a differentiated CPA-grade player within the VITA ecosystem for low-income filers.

Name

Tax-Aid

Legal name

Tax-Aid, Inc.

Website

https://tax-aid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tax-Aid is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that provides free federal and California tax preparation to low-income households earning under approximately $69,000, delivered via in-person sites and a statewide virtual service by 900+ volunteers and a 1-10 person staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Preparation Services

NAICS

Tax Preparation Services (541213), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Taxpayer Services, Education & Outreach (BPAIADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Taxes & Filing Basics (Withholding, Deductions, Credits) (EDAAAJAG), Income Support & Cash Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Free tax preparation services
• Nonprofit tax assistance
• Low-income tax help
• Volunteer tax services
• Community tax programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Tax-Aid operates as a nonprofit organization funded entirely through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. The organization does not charge any fees for services and depends on contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations to operate free tax preparation sites.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, KPMG, Intuit, and others provide financial support and volunteer resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tax-Aid provides free federal and California state tax return preparation and related tax assistance services to low-income households earning less than $69,000 per year in the San Francisco Bay Area and statewide California. Services are delivered by volunteer tax professionals (CPAs, accountants, and trained preparers) through in-person tax sites, a virtual online questionnaire platform, and curbside document drop-off, complemented by multilingual support (English, Spanish, Chinese) and year-round availability.

Product overview

Tax-Aid offers a unified free tax preparation service platform for low-income Bay Area residents (households earning under $69,000/year). The core offering combines Virtual Tax Service (remote questionnaire-based preparation) and In-Person Tax Help (at physical tax sites), supplemented by a Self-Service Status Portal for clients to track return progress. The service also includes specialized assistance modules for tax credits (CalEITC, Child Tax Credit), ITIN support, student loan forgiveness guidance, and economic impact payments. Tax-Aid's workforce development programs—the Equity Fellowship and Volunteer Training Program—train future tax professionals while enabling the delivery of free tax services. All offerings are provided in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese) and year-round.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Tax Service Online tax preparation service where clients complete a secure questionnaire and upload tax documents via computer or smartphone, and trained volunteers prepare their federal and California tax returns remotely. Available statewide in California in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
• In-Person Tax Help On-site tax preparation assistance at Tax-Aid physical locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, where professional volunteer preparers help clients with federal and California tax returns on a same-day, first-come, first-served basis during tax season and year-round for complex situations.
• Tax Return Status Self-Service Portal Online portal allowing Tax-Aid clients to check the status of their prepared tax return using their home zip code and client number.
• California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Assistance Guidance and support for California residents to claim the state Earned Income Tax Credit, available to workers with income up to $31,950.
• Child Tax Credit Assistance Assistance with claiming the federal Child Tax Credit, including advance payments and the Recovery Rebate Credit for eligible low-income families.
• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Assistance Help for individuals who need an ITIN to file federal taxes, particularly undocumented taxpayers and their families.
• Student Loan Forgiveness Guidance Information and guidance on federal student loan forgiveness programs, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), for Tax-Aid clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,545 tax returns prepared in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Golden State OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Connect partner for 2025. Goal is networking with organizations across California to reach more clients. Tax-Aid participated in GSO's Tacos & Taxes events.
• Mayor Youth Employment and Education Program (MYEEP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local youth employment program to train and employ high school students and young adults in administrative roles.
• New Door VenturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with New Door Ventures to provide internship opportunities for youth at Tax-Aid office and tax sites.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Prosperity Now (formerly CFED): National nonprofit focused on economic opportunity for low-income households, including EITC campaigns and free tax preparation support. Comparable anti-poverty tax mission, but operates largely as a policy/capacity-builder rather than direct preparer.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: Largest free tax preparation program in the U.S., serving low-to-moderate income filers with IRS-trained volunteers. Directly comparable mission and volunteer-driven VITA model, but operates nationally and at significantly larger scale than Tax-Aid.
• Goodwill Industries International (Financial Services): Many local Goodwill affiliates run free tax preparation and financial capability programs serving low-income households. Comparable clientele and community-based delivery model, but operates as a broader workforce and social services nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Single Stop: National nonprofit helping low-income families access tax credits, public benefits, and financial counseling through a single-access model. Comparable client base and integration of free tax prep with broader social services.
• Foundation Communities: Austin, TX-based nonprofit providing free tax preparation for households earning under ~$66,000, plus financial coaching. Highly comparable mission, volunteer model, EITC focus, and client target to Tax-Aid.
• Cash Campaign of Maryland (and peer state cash campaigns): State-level nonprofit coordinating free tax preparation, EITC outreach, and financial education. Closely comparable mission, target population, and reliance on volunteer tax preparers.

Regional players

• United Way Bay Area (VITA): Operates VITA free tax preparation sites in the Bay Area, and is itself a Tax-Aid financial partner. Directly comparable service model and geography, though broader social mission across additional programs.
• AccountAbility Minnesota: Nonprofit providing free tax preparation and financial counseling to low-income households in Minnesota. Highly comparable service offering and client segment, but geographically separate from Tax-Aid.

Emerging players

• Code for America (GetCTC/GetCalFresh): Nonprofit that built GetCTC, a streamlined tool for families to claim the Child Tax Credit. Comparable focus on low-income tax credit uptake but uses a digital-first delivery model rather than Tax-Aid's volunteer-heavy approach.
• Golden State Opportunity: California nonprofit promoting EITC and CalEITC uptake through events like Tacos & Taxes, and a Tax-Aid Community Connect partner. Comparable focus on low-income tax credit uptake in California.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TaxAid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tax-aid
• Instagraminstagram.com/TaxAid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tax-Aid