Top 10 reasons for becoming a volunteer with your community s free tax preparation program

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1 Top 10 reasons for becoming a volunteer with your community s free tax preparation program 1. You can make a difference as a tax volunteer. 2. As a tax volunteer, veterans (and non-veterans alike) can help military personnel and their families. 3. Volunteers will become part of an established program that has helped community members file tax returns at no charge for more than four decades. 4. No previous experience is required. Volunteers receive specialized training and if tax preparation is not preferable have the option of serving in a variety of other roles. 5. If you are fluent in a language other than English, you can help those who do not speak English understand their tax return. 6. IRS provides free tax law training and materials needed to prepare basic individual income tax returns. 7. Volunteers become familiar with deductions, allowable expenses and credits that benefit eligible taxpayers, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly. 8. The hours are flexible. Volunteers generally serve an average of three to four hours per week. 9. Volunteer sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. 10. VITA sites offer free electronic filing for both federal and state tax returns.

2 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS United Way of the River Cities, in partnership with IRS and local nonprofit organizations, is coordinating free income tax preparation for low- to middle-income families at a variety of physical locations and online during the filing season. What do tax volunteers do? IRS-certified volunteers file federal and state returns electronically at no charge to the taxpayer. There are four possible jobs for volunteers: Volunteer Tax Preparers meet with taxpayers and prepare basic tax returns using TaxWise online software, then file them electronically. Greeters oversee client sign-in, assist clients in completing the Intake sheet and direct them to complementary services where available. Quality Reviewers review all tax returns completed by Volunteer Tax Preparers at the tax site, ensuring that every customer visiting the site receives top-quality service and that the tax returns are error-free. MyFreeTaxes Guides help guide taxpayers through filing their own returns via website. The MyFreeTaxes.com website is for individuals who want to prepare their own taxes online. Tax law experts are available by phone or chat to ask questions when needed, so the Guide doesn t need to answer tax questions. Do I need to be a math person to volunteer as a Tax Preparer? Not at all. All the math is done by computer. You need to like to meet new people, pay attention to details and be able to think logically, so that you get the information you need to complete the return. You also need basic computer and typing skills. Plus, we have calculators! What if I make a mistake? No one s perfect, but you will be well-trained and there are several checks on your work. The tax software catches most errors, and each return is reviewed by another trained person before it is actually filed. As a VITA volunteer, you are protected from any liability for any mistakes you make. How do I get the training and take the certification tests? We provide in-person tax training in January for all potential volunteers. You can also use the IRS Link and Learn site (apps.irs.gov/app/vita/) to study online whenever you like. You must be certified by the IRS at the Advanced level to be a Preparer or Quality Reviewer, which involves passing a test online either during training or on your own time. Greeters and Guides only need to pass an ethics test.

3 How much time am I expected to volunteer? Volunteer Tax Preparers and Quality Reviewers are asked to commit at least 10 hours a month for the three-month tax season (30 hours total, mid-january to mid-april), and most volunteer one or two sessions a week (three to four hours each). You can be flexible and volunteer at different sites as your schedule permits. You can sign up for the shifts and locations that are most convenient. Greeters and Guides are asked to work in three to four hour shifts, for at least four shifts over the season. How long does it take to prepare a return? Most returns can be completed in a half-hour or so, after you get oriented to the software. Returns for taxpayers who have multiple employers or many dependents, child care expenses and education credits may take longer. Careful preparation is more important than speed. You want to make sure that the taxpayer reports income and deductions accurately, pays only what he/she owes, and gets the maximum refund for which he/she is eligible. Can I get CEUs? Enrolled Agents and Other Tax Return Preparers can earn continuing education credits after completing the appropriate coursework and volunteering as an instructor, quality reviewer and or tax return preparer at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. Why is this free tax preparation program important? You are directly helping people who don t make a lot of money to get what they ve earned. Even if a taxpayer isn t eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you have saved them hundreds of dollars in preparation fees. And if you have filed for the EITC for someone who would otherwise have filed a 1040-EZ and missed this credit, your work may add up to $6,242 more to their pocket. Think what difference that could make for a family trying to buy their first house, pay off bills or even afford household necessities.

4 Step 1. Intake How a VITA Site Works All of the client s tax documents are reviewed to ensure that they have all required paperwork, a picture ID, Social Security cards for everyone on the return and that the return is within the scope of the VITA program. All out-of-scope returns are referred to an a professional return preparer Step 2. Preparation During preparation, a volunteer tax preparer enters all of the data provided by the taxpayer into TaxWise, the tax preparation software provided by the IRS. The tax preparer confirms details of the return with the taxpayer, such as, income sources, status of dependents and other details important to the return. Step 3. Quality Review Once the return has been completed, printed and explained to the taxpayer, it moves to Quality Review. This review ensures that there are no typos or missed information. Additionally, the reviewer answers any additional questions the taxpayer may have, explains either the refund or payment process, has the taxpayer sign the return and returns all of the tax documents to the client. Step 4. E-file After the site closes, the Site Coordinator e-files all of that day s returns using TaxWise.

5 VITA Volunteer Application Name Address Phone I am interested in the following volunteer opportunities: Volunteer Tax Preparers meet with taxpayers and prepare basic tax returns using TaxWise online software, then file them electronically. Greeters oversee client sign-in, assist clients in completing the Intake sheet and direct them to complementary services where available. Quality Reviewers review all tax returns completed by Volunteer Tax Preparers at the tax site, ensuring that every customer visiting the site receives top-quality service and that the tax returns are error-free. MyFreeTaxes Guides help guide taxpayers through filing their own returns via website. The MyFreeTaxes.com website is for individuals who want to prepare their own taxes online. Tax law experts are available by phone or chat to ask questions when needed, so the Guide doesn t need to answer tax questions. *As a VITA volunteer, you are protected from any liability for any mistakes you make.* Volunteer Availability circle your availability Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Morning Morning Morning Morning Morning Morning Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Evening Evening Evening Evening Evening Evening Where did you hear about this volunteer opportunity? Newspaper Radio Mail Friend Other Volunteer Pledge of Confidentiality: As a volunteer tax preparer, I pledge not to divulge, distribute or make public any client s personal or financial information. Signature Date Return completed form to: Financial Stability Partnership of the River Cities Ed Davis, Program Director Fax Madison Av., Huntington, WV ed.davis@unitedwayrivercities.org x103