Many families across Los Angeles struggle to access reliable and affordable tax help. Some are overwhelmed by the filing process, while others simply cannot afford the high cost of professional tax preparation. As a result, thousands of dollars in refunds and tax credits often go unclaimed every year.
That is where Hollywood Tax and Care Center comes in.
Located on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Tax and Care Center is an Armenian-owned 501(c)(3) nonprofit and official IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site providing completely free tax preparation services to qualifying low- and moderate-income families across Los Angeles. Beyond serving the community, the organization has also become a hands-on training opportunity for aspiring CPAs, accounting students, and future tax professionals looking to gain real-world experience.
Founded by Harut Yerikyan, the nonprofit was built around a simple mission: making trustworthy tax assistance accessible to the people who need it most.
We sat down with Harut to talk about the inspiration behind Hollywood Tax and Care Center, the impact it is already making in the community, and the volunteers helping drive the mission forward.
Q&A with Harut Yerikyan, Founder of Hollywood Tax and Care Center
I saw too many hardworking families paying high fees for simple tax returns — or avoiding taxes completely because they felt overwhelmed. I wanted to create a place where people could get trusted help for free while also creating opportunities for future CPAs and accounting students to gain real experience serving the community.
As a CPA, I wanted to use my experience to directly help the community. Once I learned how much of a difference VITA makes for low-income families, I knew I wanted to build something bigger around it.
Seeing families walk out relieved after finding out they were getting refunds they desperately needed. For many people, that money helps pay rent, groceries, childcare, or debt. It showed me how important accessible tax help really is.
Now Recruiting: VITA Volunteers
Beyond serving families, Hollywood Tax and Care Center is on a mission to train the next generation of Armenian-American accountants. The center is actively recruiting volunteers — and you don't need a background in tax to apply.
We're especially looking for college students, university students, aspiring CPAs, and anyone interested in gaining real tax preparation experience. Even though it's volunteer-based, we treat it like a hands-on internship where you can learn directly from a CPA, build your resume, gain experience with real clients, and develop professional skills.
No experience is required. We train volunteers from scratch through the IRS certification process and provide guidance throughout tax season. Volunteers can learn how to prepare real tax returns, work with clients, receive mentorship from a CPA, and even get qualifying hours signed off depending on their program or school requirements. We also offer group CPA tutoring and educational support for those pursuing a CPA designation.
Send an email to contact@freetaxoffice.org if you'd like to sign up to volunteer.
Why It Matters
Access to free and trustworthy tax preparation can make a major difference for working families. Many taxpayers qualify for valuable credits and refunds they may not fully understand or know how to claim on their own. Others avoid filing entirely because they feel overwhelmed or cannot afford professional preparation fees. Programs like IRS VITA help bridge that gap by providing reliable assistance at no cost to eligible individuals and families.
For volunteers, Hollywood Tax and Care Center offers much more than traditional volunteer work. Students and aspiring professionals gain hands-on experience working with real tax returns, receive IRS certification and training, learn directly from a CPA, and build valuable experience for their resumes and future careers. For many accounting students, it also serves as an opportunity to strengthen practical skills and gain exposure to real client interactions in a community-focused environment.
How to Get Free Tax Help
Need help filing your own taxes? Hollywood Tax and Care Center is open Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM by appointment, with both drop-off and pick-up options.
- 📍 4968 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- 📞 (323) 284-8979
- ✉️ contact@freetaxoffice.org
- 🌐 freetaxoffice.org
To qualify, you generally need to earn $69,000 or less. People with disabilities and taxpayers with limited English proficiency are also eligible regardless of income.
Support the Mission
Hollywood Tax and Care Center is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which means donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you can't volunteer but want to support free tax prep for hardworking families, you can donate directly through their site.
Hollywood Tax and Care Center
Free tax prep for LA families. Hands-on training for aspiring CPAs. Volunteers wanted now.