Helping in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is rewarding and serves a vital role in your local community.
Did you know that most of our volunteers do not come from tax backgrounds? The Cooperative Ministry will train and certify you before you begin. Together, we've got this!
Choose your role:
Volunteer Tax Preparer. Duties include:
- Interview taxpayers using the IRS Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet
- Prepare only returns that are within the scope of your certification level(s) and within the scope of the program
- Provide high-quality tax return preparation to taxpayers who qualify for VITA assistance
- Enter tax information into the TaxSlayer software
- Obtain signatures for E-File authorization
- Answer questions and/or use available resources to assist taxpayers
- Adhere to Quality Site Requirements and Volunteers Standards of Conduct at all times
- Maintain taxpayer privacy and confidentially standards
Volunteer Greeter/Screener. Duties include:
- Greet all taxpayers visiting the site to create a pleasant atmosphere
- Provide taxpayers with intake forms and answer non-tax questions
- Ensure the taxpayer has brought all required documents to verify taxpayer identity and to complete his/her tax return
- Determine if the return is within the scope of the VITA program and determine which certified volunteer at the site can prepare the return
- Manage waiting and entry areas to maintain the flow of taxpayers according to site operational procedures
- Adhere to Quality Site Requirements and Volunteer Standards of Conduct at all times
- Refer taxpayers to Site Coordinators for tax questions
Volunteer Site Coordinator. Duties include:
- Certified at the Advanced Level through the IRS Link & Learn website, and complete Site Coordinator training.
- Verify and retain signed and dated Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement for all volunteers at the VITA site
- Ensure that the VITA site is open as scheduled and adequately staffed
- Supervise volunteers working at the site
- Maintain Quality Site Requirements and adhere to Volunteer Standards of Conduct at all times
- Ensure that all returns prepared are within scope of the VITA program
- Adhere to the Quality Review process for returns completed at the VITA location
- Ensure client tax returns are e-filed with the IRS within 24 hours of the return being prepared
- Ensure rejected returns are either corrected or the affected taxpayer contacted
- Assist tax preparers with answering taxpayer questions regarding his/her tax return
- Maintain taxpayer privacy and confidentiality standards at all times
