Volunteer Tax Assistor

Purpose of Position:

• Provide FREE tax return preparation assistance to taxpayers in the community, including those persons with a low to limited income, persons with disabilities, and elderly individuals.

Length of Appointment:

• February 1 through April 15; renewable upon agreement with the volunteer.

Responsibilities:

• Attend basic and/or refresher tax law training as needed, including the use of electronic filing software.
• Successfully pass a test on required tax law knowledge.
• Provide high-quality tax return preparation assistance to all taxpayers.

VITA Site:

• Directly prepare taxpayer’s return based on information provided by taxpayer or answer tax related questions.
• Interview taxpayer to determine if all income, deductions and allowable credits are claimed.
• Prepare only those tax returns for which training was provided.
• Prepare tax returns using electronic filing software (whenever possible).
• Refer taxpayers with complex returns to a tax practitioner or firm. However, volunteers should never refer taxpayers to a specific practitioner or firm.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information.
• Ensure on-site quality review is performed on completed returns prior to being returned to taxpayer.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information.
• Ensure a copy of the completed return is provided to the taxpayer.

Fast Site:

• Answer tax related questions
• Interview taxpayer to see if they qualify for FAST Program
• Assist only those tax returns for which training was provided.
• Refer taxpayers with complex returns to a tax practitioner or firm. However, volunteers should never refer taxpayers to a specific practitioner or firm.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information.
• Remind taxpayer to print a completed copy of the return to keep with their personal records.

Qualifications:

• Basic tax knowledge (Form 1040, Form 1040A and Form 1040EZ). Basic tax training will be provided as needed, via classroom or on-line through Link & Learn.
• Willingness to share time, skills, and interests – e.g., volunteer an average of 2 to 4 hours per week on VITA/TCE from approximately February 1 through April 15.
• Basic computer skills for inputting tax return information.
• Pride in performing tasks completely and accurately.
• Deal with the public in a helpful and supportive manner, including interviewing skills. Interviewing skills training will be provided as needed.
• Friendly, dependable and flexible.

Support Available:

• Orientation, training and on-site support will be provided by the Volunteer Site Coordinator at the VITA Sites.
• Technical support will also be available from the Internal Revenue Service via local IRS SPEC Tax Consultants and via phone through IRS VITA Hotline-available for VITA and FAST.

Time Required:

• The exact volunteer time required depends on specific responsibilities, number of other volunteers assigned to the volunteer site, size of the VITA/TCE site and volume of traffic. Time will also be required before February to attend either a basic or refresher tax law course, including the use of electronic filing software.

The VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program). Our VITA Program at Woodlawn Community Center is a very valuable and rewarding program that assists many low-moderate income families in Pawtucket and across RI. We help people with disabilities, people who are elderly, people who are low income, and people with language barriers. Each year the VITA Volunteers save these taxpayers both time and money by assisting them with their tax returns and ensuring they get all the tax credits they qualify for. Volunteers play an important role in this valuable program and are an integral part of the program- we could not do it without them!

Some of the benefits for the volunteers include the self gratification of knowing they helped the low income working families in our State, learn how to prepare their own tax return, and added skills and experience to add to their resume!

What the VITA system does for low income & elderly & people with disabilities

Free Tax Help Available

Are you puzzled by the tax law and which credits and deductions you can take? If so, then why not take advantage of one of the Internal Revenue Service volunteer tax return preparation programs:  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

VITA offers free tax help to individuals with incomes of $50,000 or less.  TCE counselors provide free tax help to people aged 60 and older.  They specialize in questions about pensions and retirement issues unique to seniors.  To learn the location, dates, and hours of the volunteer site nearest to you, call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040.

Volunteer tax preparation sites are located at convenient community locations.  VITA sites are sponsored by thousands of community organizations across the country.  TCE operates in conjunction with AARP and other organizations that receive U.S. Treasury grants to provide tax help.  These sites provide free basic income tax return preparation to individuals in local communities.  Volunteers, trained with IRS publications, alert individuals to special credits for which they may qualify, such as the credit for the elderly, child care credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and child tax credits.

Taxpayers seeking assistance must have photo identification and Social Security Cards (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) for themselves, spouses and dependents. They should also bring this year’s tax package (if available), wage and earnings statements (Forms W-2), interest and dividend statements (Forms 1099), a copy of last year’s return, and any other information concerning their income and expenses for 2012.  For joint, e-filed, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Besides free tax return preparation, most sites also offer Financial Literacy/Asset Building information and free electronic filing (e-filing).  Individuals who e-file their tax returns generally will receive their refunds in half the time it takes when returns are filed on paper—even faster when they use the option to have their refund deposited directly into their bank account.  A faster refund is not the only advantage of using e-file.  Electronically filed returns are more accurate, and e-filers receive an acknowledgment from the IRS that their return has been received.

Filing your taxes can be easy and free. Take advantage of the volunteer tax preparation program in your area to receive free income tax preparation assistance.  Visit the IRS Web site at www.IRS.gov to learn more about the IRS volunteer tax preparation programs. To schedule an appointment or volunteer for free tax help call (401) 475-7632.at Woodlawn Community Center

HELPING WITH TAXES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Learn more about federal taxes and help others in your community

Do you or your organization help people in your community?  Are you looking for community projects for your employees?  Have you been looking for a way to help your neighbors, employees or customers put more money back in their pockets?  Many groups  & individuals help out in their communities, but here’s an idea you may not have thought about:  Doing taxes!

The Internal Revenue Service has a program that provides free tax help to individuals.  Called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/ Tax Counseling for the Elderly, this service can make taxes easier for people whose incomes are $50,000 or less.  Your organization can sponsor a volunteer site in any number of ways, for example by hosting a tax assistance site, by recruiting volunteers, or by donating equipment or supplies to another VITA/TCE sponsor, to name a few.

“VITA/TCE volunteers explain many special tax credits and deductions and how people may claim them on their tax returns,” Holly Longley, Sr. Tax Consultant said.  “These volunteers help people fill out their tax returns, right down to any refund that may be due them.  Anyone can volunteer.  If you are interested and want to help, we can find a way to involve you in this program.” 

Through the free service, VITA/TCE volunteers help preserve the value of tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.  These tax credits can put additional money back into the hands of eligible taxpayers.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, including members of the community at large.  But they also come from other sources like corporate, academic, professional, accounting, retirement, religious, military and community groups.  They work out of sites that are set up at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other locations convenient to the public.  

Another advantage to VITA/TCE is that people can electronically file their federal income tax returns free—that’s at no charge!  If you sponsor VITA/TCE, you can be involved in offering IRS e-file to your customers.   Each year, hundreds of thousands of tax returns are processed electronically through the VITA/TCE program.   IRS e-file is more accurate, with less than a 1% error rate, and means that your customers can have their tax refunds in as little as 10 days.

Local IRS offices join with community organizations and volunteers to provide VITA/TCE training materials, tax preparation software and technical support for VITA/TCE operations.

If you are interested in exploring VITA/TCE opportunities in your area, let us hear from you.  Ideally, partnering organizations will have physical facilities and computers that can be used for a VITA/TCE site and will have the desire to achieve a high degree of self-sufficiency.  Some organizations may wish to join an existing community coalition to combine limited or specialized resources.

Sound like a good idea?  If you're interested, contact the IRS at 401-528-1881 or send an email to HOLLY.A.LONGLEY@IRS.GOV or 475-7632 for Woodlawn Comm Ctr.