SIGN UP AT UNITEDWAYWINECOUNTRY.ORG

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1 Become a Volunteer! VITA Help bring $$$ back to local families through FREE tax assistance. Volunteer January through April. Training provided for free. See back for more details! SIGN UP AT UNITEDWAYWINECOUNTRY.ORG OR CALL: SONOMA COUNTY (707) X122 MENDOCINO OR LAKE COUNTIES (707) HUMBOLDT OR DEL NORTE COUNTIES (707) United Way of the Wine Country

2 We Need Tax Preparers, Greeters, Interpreters & Resource Coaches. YOU TELL US: HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN GIVE YOUR DESIRED VOLUNTEER POSITION YOUR CURRENT COMPUTER SKILLS YOUR LEVEL OF TAX LAW KNOWLEDGE, IF ANY MANY INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES MAKE LESS THAN WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE ENDS MEET. Help low-wage, working families keep more of what they earn by volunteering. Last year, volunteers helped bring $5.8 million in refunds back to our local community. No experience needed Training in December & January WE PROVIDE: FREE TAX LAW TRAINING E-FILE SOFTWARE TRAINING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT A GREAT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE VITA Can t volunteer? Donate and know that for every $1 donated into this program, $12 comes back into the community. You may make your investment online at unitedwaywinecountry.org, or by using this form. $50 $100 $250 $500 $1000 Other: Method of Payment: Credit Card Check Make checks payable to United Way of the Wine Country. Amount enclosed or to be charged: $ Card Number: Please accept my tax-deductible investment to United Way of the Wine Country to support our local community! Name: Address: Exp. Date: Name on Card: Authorized Signature: Billing Zip: City: State: Zip: Phone/ Please mail this form and your donation to United Way at: 975 Corporate Center Parkway, Suite 160, Santa, CA Your gift is tax deductible. Tax ID p:

3 Welcome to the Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! Information Session! This information session is the first step to becoming a volunteer. During this meeting we ll go over the history, logistics, and next steps to becoming a volunteer. You should leave this meeting with a better idea of how the program works and how to get involved. What is Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! (EKS)? o Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! is a coalition of partners that provides free, quality tax return preparation to low-to-moderate income community members. o EKS facilitates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program which is a national, government-funded program aimed at poverty alleviation. o EKS utilizes the help of volunteer Site Coordinators, Tax Preparers, Greeters. Resource Coaches, Interpreters, and Outreach Volunteers to help individuals and families in need. Quick Facts: o Last year, volunteers helped prepare more than 4600 tax returns and brought back $5.8 million in refunds! o EKS has more than 50 tax sites throughout Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, & Del Norte counties. How does the program work? o We train volunteers to help individuals and families claim their maximum refund because it is our mission to provide free tax preparation service as a tool to help local residents become financially stable. o Each tax site has a Site Coordinator who is responsible for day-to-day site operations such as volunteer schedule coordination throughout tax season, volunteer identity and training verification, volunteer coaching, e-filing of returns, correction of rejected returns, distribution of IRS updates to all site volunteers, and quality review of each return. o Besides taxes, EKS also utilizes Resource Coaches to connect clients to additional services they may be eligible for. For additional information visit our website at Michelle Fielder Suzanne Yeomans Volunteer Coordinator Income Program Officer United Way of the Wine Country United Way of the Wine Country Ext Ext.108 Michelle.fielder@unitedwaywinecountry.org Suzanne.yeomans@unitedwaywinecountry.org

4 Volunteer Roles Tax Preparers: Tax Preparers prepare taxes at Basic or Advanced levels. These volunteers are provided with the option of inperson trainings or they can do the self-paced online training and then take the test. Advanced trainings are also offered to returning or experienced volunteers. Greeters: Greeters welcome clients and guide them through the intake process prior to their tax appointment. Training is not required, but a Site Orientation is given to all Greeters at the tax site. Resource Coaches: Resource Coaches provide information to clients about possible eligibility for other available resources before or after their tax appointment. These resources may include health insurance, CalFresh, savings opportunities, and a no cost debit card. Interpreters: Interpreters are present on an as-needed basis. Spanish to English Interpreters are needed the most in our five county regions. Outreach Volunteers: Outreach Volunteers help distribute volunteer and client outreach materials through each community. Volunteer Requirements Tax Preparers must be trained and certified by the IRS. Training class schedules vary by county and begin in December and/or January. See page 7 in this packet for a list of training dates and locations. For tax professionals or experienced volunteers, an online training and certification tool is available starting in November. All of our Tax Preparers need to be comfortable working with a computer. RSVP to the in-class training through uwwc.fundlyconnect.com Online training can be done at Tax Preparers, Greeters, and Resource Coaches must complete the Standards of Conduct exam on Link & Learn The Standards of Conduct training and certification can be found at Interpreters & Outreach Volunteers don t have to attend a training or certify online! 4

5 Next Steps Checklist Tax Preparers must: Register online for Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! at uwwc.fundlyconnect.com -then check your ! Attend an in-person training (RSVP on Fundly Connect) or complete the online training Pass the Standards of Conduct exam Pass the Intake & Interview/ Quality Review exam Pass the Basic and/or Advanced Tax Law exam Send IRS Form (Volunteer Standards of Conduct) to Michelle Fielder at United Way & Site Coordinator Complete the background check form and send to Michelle Fielder at United Way Choose a tax site and schedule Greeters must: Register online for Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! at uwwc.fundlyconnect.com -then check your ! Pass the Standards of Conduct exam Send IRS Form (Volunteer Standards of Conduct) to Michelle Fielder at United Way & Site Coordinator Choose a tax site and schedule Resource Coaches must: Register online for Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! at uwwc.fundlyconnect.com -then check your ! Pass the Standards of Conduct exam Send IRS Form (Volunteer Standards of Conduct) to Michelle Fielder at United Way & Site Coordinator Choose a tax site and schedule Interpreters must: Register online for Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! at uwwc.fundlyconnect.com -then check your ! Be available to volunteer on an as-needed basis at the tax sites Choose a tax site and schedule Outreach Volunteers must: Register online for Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! at uwwc.fundlyconnect.com -then check your ! Attend an Information Session Get outreach materials (hard copy & electronic) from United Way to share Volunteers should submit IRS Form & background check form (as applicable) to: Michelle Fielder/ United Way of the Wine Country 975 Corporate Center Parkway, Suite 160 Santa, CA Ext. 122 Michelle.fielder@unitedwaywinecountry.org 5

6 Frequently Asked Questions Q. I'm not an experienced tax preparer. Can I do this? A. Yes! We only ask that volunteer tax preparers have an interest in tax preparation as well as experience working with a computer. We have excellent instructors who will teach you in our trainings how to help clients file their taxes. Q: What is the difference between the in-person tax preparer training and the self-paced online training? A. The in-class tax preparer training is highly recommended for new volunteers. During this training you not only learn tax law but also TaxWise, the computer software we use to file taxes. The in-class setting is the ideal setting to ask questions and also to learn more about the program. The self-paced online training, Link & Learn, covers tax law. This is highly recommended for returning volunteers who are already familiar with the TaxWise computer software and the program. However, due to some volunteers schedules, self-paced online training may be the only feasible option. Q. What is the time commitment for volunteers? A. Each volunteer must commit to one 2-4 hour shift per week during tax season (mid-january to mid-april). However, if you have to miss a week or more, let your Site Coordinator know well in advance and it shouldn t be a problem. Q: Who takes on the liability for the tax preparation? A: Public Law , Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (VPA) protects volunteers from liabilities if they were acting within the scope of the program and harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, and conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer. In general, if volunteers only prepare returns within scope of the VITA program and adhere to the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, they are protected. In regards to clients, we always say, we can t make them do the right thing, but we won t help them do the wrong thing when filing their taxes. 6

7 To sign up for a training class go to uwwc.fundlyconnect.com Tax Preparer training classes are either 3-day sessions or 6-evening sessions. You must click RSVP to each day of the session to ensure you are properly registered. SONOMA COUNTY TAX PREPARER TRAININGS December 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 8 th, 9 th, and 10 th Tues- Thurs 6:00pm-9:00pm Community Action Partnership, Santa December 15 th, 16 th, and 17 th Tues-Thurs (for County Employees only) 9:00am-4:00pm County Office, Santa January 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th Tues-Thurs (for County Employees only) 9:00am-4:00pm County Office, Santa January 9 th, 16 th, and 23 rd Saturdays 9:00am-4:00pm Empire College, Santa January 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, 12 th, 13 th, and 14 th Tues- Thurs 6:00pm-9:00pm Empire College, Santa ADVANCED TRAININGS December 4 th Friday (Advanced Training for Returning or Experienced Volunteers) 1:00pm-4:00pm Empire College, Santa January 23 rd Saturday (Advanced Training for Returning or Experienced Volunteers) 1:00pm-4:00pm Empire College, Santa TAXWISE SOFTWARE HELP LABS January 9 th, 16 th, and/or 23 rd Saturdays (For those volunteers doing online training who still want hands on practice) 1:00pm-4:00pm Empire College, Santa GREETER/RESOURCE COACH TRAININGS January 6 th Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm Empire College, Santa January 16 th Saturday 10:00am- 12:00pm Empire College, Santa January 23 rd Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm Empire College, Santa 7

8 MENDOCINO/ LAKE COUNTIES TAX PREPARER TRAINING January 9 th, 16 th, and 23 rd Saturdays 9:00am-4:00pm Mendocino College, Ukiah ADVANCED TRAININGS January 2 nd Saturday (Advanced Training for returning volunteers or experienced preparers) 9:00am-12:00pm NCO, Ukiah HUMBOLDT/ DEL NORTE COUNTIES TAX PREPARER TRAINING TBD TBD TBD 8

9 TAX SITES IN SONOMA COUNTY (all subject to change) CLOVERDALE Community Alliance for Financial Empowerment (Drop off site only) 129 N. Cloverdale Blvd. #1 GUERNEVILLE River to Coast Children s Services st St, Guerneville Saturdays 9:00am 1:00pm PETALUMA Petaluma People Services Center 1500 Petaluma Blvd South Mondays & Wednesdays 2:30pm 5:30pm Fridays 1:00pm 4:00pm Saturdays 10:00am 2:00pm ROHNERT PARK Rohnert Park Senior Center 6800 Hunter Drive SONOMA La Luz Center Greger Street Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00pm 9:00pm WINDSOR Our Lady of Guadalupe Church 8400 Old Redwood Highway Mondays 5:00pm 7:00pm Saturdays 9:00am 12:00pm SANTA ROSA Catholic Charities Administrative Building 987 Airway Court Mondays 3:00pm 7:00pm Community Action Partnership 1300 N Dutton Avenue Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays 5:00pm 8:00pm Saturdays 9:00am 1:00pm Empire College 3035 Cleveland Avenue Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays 2:30pm 5:30pm Fridays & Saturdays 9:00am 1:00pm Goodwill Redwood Empire 651 Yolanda Avenue Saturdays from 9:00am 1:00pm Roseland Elementary School 950 Sebastopol Road Tuesdays 5:00 8:00pm Sonoma County Human Services Capricorn 2227 Capricorn Way #100 Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00pm 8:00pm Sonoma County Human Services Paulin 2550 Paulin Drive Mondays & Fridays 5:00 8:00pm Saturdays 9:00am 1:00pm United Way of the Wine Country 975 Corporate Center Parkway, Suite 160 Wednesdays 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 8

10 TAX SITES IN MENDO/LAKE COUNTIES CLEARLAKE Mendo Lake Credit Union Olympic Drive North Coast Opportunities Clearlake Lakeshore Drive COVELO Mendocino College Round Valley Campus Grange Street #3 Round Valley Public Library Howard Street FORT BRAGG Mendo Lake Credit Union 10 North Main Street Redwood Coast Senior Center 490 N Harold Street LAKEPORT North Coast Opportunities Lakeport 850 Lakeport Boulevard UKIAH ARC Family Resource Center 1640 South State Street North Coast Opportunities 413 North State Street Mendocino College 1000 Hensley Creek Road Mendo Lake Credit Union 526 South State Street Willits Nuestra Alianza De Willits 291 School Street #1 TAX SITES IN HUMBOLDT/ DEL NORTE COUNTIES EUREKA Humboldt Library Specific location TBD Redwood Community Action Agency 904 G Street St. Joseph s Healthy Kids 2200 Harrison Avenue Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00am 3:00pm 9