Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is offered by the IRS to the public for free help filing federal tax returns.

The service, available at locations in Pierce County and elsewhere through April 18 (the filing deadline), is for low-income to moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited-English speakers.

The Pierce locations, where in most cases appointments are necessary, include Tacoma Goodwill Milgard’s Work Opportunity Center (253-370-0626), Tacoma Housing Authority in Salishan (253-370-0626), Tacoma Public Library’s Moore Branch (no appointment needed), True Blessings in Spanaway (253-370-0626), Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center (253-756-0601), Puyallup Activity Center (253-841-5555), Puyallup Elks Lodge (253-693-8731), Puyallup Public Library (253-841-5454), Sumner Senior Center (253-693-8731), and Buckley Senior Center (253-693-8731).

Information is also available by phone at 2-1-1 and online at irs.gov/vita.

Another free service for tax-filing assistance is Tax-Aide, sponsored by the AARP Foundation. More information, including a comprehensive list of documents to bring to the tax site, is available at www.aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or 1-888-227-7669.