Volunteer for VITA

VITA is an IRS-supported, free income tax preparation program for qualifying families in Tarrant County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program aims to increase the use of valuable federal tax benefits for working families/individuals in the Tarrant County area through outreach and tax preparation assistance. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers will provide free tax help to working families & individuals in Tarrant County.

Roles: Certified IRS Tax Preparer

• After certification training, provide basic tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers.
• Volunteers will provide free, high-quality service and uphold the highest of ethical standards to establish public trust.

Responsibilities:

• Attend new and/or refresher tax law training as needed, including training on the use of electronic software. (Approximately 24 hours of training is necessary to become certified for new volunteers)
• For fast-paced learners, 8-hour training is available
• Successfully pass the required test with a score of 80% or higher (Test can be taken twice)
• Provide high-quality assistance to all taxpayers. Directly prepare taxpayer’s return based on information provided by the taxpayer and answer tax-related questions.
• Prepare only those tax returns for which training and certification were provided.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Initiates and completes the Intake/Interview Quality Review Sheet with each assigned taxpayer
• Reviews all relevant documents, worksheets for tax return accuracy
• Ensures compliance with the federal IRS rules and regulations
• Ensure on-site quality review is performed on completed returns prior to being returned to taxpayer and electronic submission.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information
• Adheres to all Quality Site Requirements

Requirement:

• Basic Computer Skills
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification
• Pass Intake & Quality Review Certification
• Attend Training/ Pass IRS Tax Preparer Certification

Additional Information:

The tax preparer works out of one of the VITA community-based sites. Any person with basic computer skills can be trained. For information, contact our office at 817-258-8015 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org

VITA Runner/Office Assistant

The ideal volunteer candidate for this position will be keep track of referral forms filled out and site volunteer hours, number of match savings/Pathfinders, entering ETO, making copies, and preparing client packets.

What will you do in this role?

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Reception/Intake coverage outside of agency building
• Assist with physical duties, including setting up table and chairs, equipment and supplies
• Assist in getting documents back and forth from the outside intake area to indoor tax preparation area on request from staff and volunteers
• Process and distribute incoming tax return cases
• Support staff overflow work
• General copying, filing, scanning, and updating of files
• Organize and maintain taxpayer files
• Data Entry and data retrieval as needed

What qualifications are required?

• Pass IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct and Intake/Interview Exams
• Excellent overall computer technical abilities
• Excellent phone etiquette
• Ability to contribute to an atmosphere of teamwork and congeniality
• Volunteering Environment

The volunteer environment is primarily outdoors.

Volunteer shifts include morning, evening, and weekend shifts (Saturday and Sunday)

While performing the volunteer duties, the volunteer may be occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, including rainy or cold weather.

Comfortable with standing for extended periods.

The volunteer will be required to adhere to Covid-19 CDC and UWTC VITA Partner’s guidelines and will be provided with personal protective equipment.

VITA is an IRS-supported, free income tax preparation program for qualifying families in Tarrant County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program aims to increase the use of valuable federal tax benefits for working families/individuals in the Tarrant County area through outreach and tax preparation assistance. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Savings Ambassador will provide information about making the most of the refund by saving and help with enrollment of the bank card for unbanked clients.

Roles:

• VITA Savings Ambassador
• After certification training, provide basic information about the VITA savings products (Savings Bonds, Split Refunds, USFocus Bank Card)
• Volunteers will provide free, high-quality service and uphold the highest of ethical standards to establish public trust.

Responsibilities:

• Attend training to learn the enrollment process of the USFocus Bank Card, including training on the use of electronic software.
• Successfully pass the required test (Volunteer Standards of Conduct) with a score of 80% or higher (Test can be taken twice)
• Provide high-quality assistance to all taxpayers that need help with learning about VITA savings products and bank card
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided
• Ensures compliance with the federal IRS rules and regulations
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information
• Adheres to all Quality Site Requirements

Requirement:

• Basic Computer Skills
• All VITA Volunteers must pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct with a score of 80% or higher
• Friendly and Courteous

Additional Information:

The Savings Ambassador works out of one of the VITA community-based sites. Any person with basic computer skills can be trained. For information, contact our office at 817-258-8062 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org

VITA is an IRS-supported, free income tax preparation program for qualifying families in Tarrant County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program aims to increase the use of valuable federal tax benefits for working families/individuals in the Tarrant County area through outreach and tax preparation assistance. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Greeter/Intake Specialist is responsible for assuring every customer is aware of all services available to them and are seen in a timely manner. The Greeter/ Intake Specialist oversees the client sign in, make sure customers have required documents to complete tax preparation, assist customers in the completion of the client/ intake sheet. Ensuring that all unsure answers on the IRS Form 13614-C, become yes or no.

Responsibilities:

• Greets customers in a courteous manner upon arrival and departure
• Explain the VITA packet to each taxpayer
• Provide clients with an Intake Form. Assists clients in completing the Intake form and answering questions related to form
• Make sure all answers on the IRS Form 13614-C are yes or no answers
• Prepares client documents for tax preparation
• Reviews all tax documents with each customer assigned
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information
• Assist with taxpayer requests and inquires
• Ask questions to site coordinators for any issues
• Adheres to all Quality Site Requirements

Requirements:

• Attend two-hour training
• Basic Computer Skills
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct
• Pass Intake & Quality Review Certification

Additional Information:

The Intake Specialist works out of one of the VITA community-based sites.

For information, contact our office at 817-258-8113 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org

VITA is an IRS-supported, free income tax preparation program for qualifying families in Tarrant County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program aims to increase the use of valuable federal tax benefits for working families/individuals in the Tarrant County area through outreach and tax preparation assistance. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Interpreter is responsible for assuring every taxpayer who needs assistance with Spanish is aware of all services available to them and they have a full understanding of the tax preparation process.

INTERPRETERS PROVIDE FREE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS WHO ARE NOT FLUENT IN ENGLISH OR MAY NEED ASSISTANCE.

Responsibilities:

• Greets customers in a courteous manner upon arrival and departure
• Provide interpretation and translation services to customers who are not fluent in English or may need assistance.

Requirements:

• Fluent in Spanish
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification
• Pass Intake and Quality Review Certification
• Review and understand tax-related terms in Spanish
• Bilingual a plus

Additional Information:

The Interpreter works out of one of the VITA community-based sites.

For information, contact our office at 817-258-8062 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org

Intake specialists greet and screen all taxpayers to ensure that they have necessary information and documentation required to complete a tax return. In addition, intake specialists explain the VITA packet to each taxpayer and assist them in completing information. Intake specialist are required to attend a one-hour training session.