IMPACT MATTERS

Help Someone in Your Community by Becoming a VITA Volunteer

This past spring, more than 500 dedicated volunteers helped 12,933 Utah families file their taxes and claim millions in Earn Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits—money that would otherwise have been left on the table. These volunteers participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation for qualifying individuals and families.

VITA is currently seeking volunteers for the upcoming tax season. While the tax season won’t start until early next year, now is the time to sign up and receive training so you can help the hardworking families in your community benefit from the EITC. This is a statewide public/private effort and volunteers are needed throughout the state. Below are a few of the volunteer opportunities available at free, self-filing online tax-preparation locations and VITA sites:

Site Coordinator:  Provides coordination, organization, and supervision for all aspects of the free tax site. The site coordinator is also responsible for gathering, maintaining and compiling timely statistical reports as required. Training: Tax Law and TaxWise classes or self-study and a passing score on the IRS Certification Exam are required for all VITA Site Coordinators.

Tax Preparers:  Assist low- to moderate-income wage earners complete their tax returns during the tax filing season. Tax Preparers receive free training and are certified by the IRS. Tax Preparers work a minimum of three hours per week at a VITA site. Training: Tax Law and TaxWise classes or self-study and a passing score on the IRS Certification Exam are required for all VITA Site Tax Preparers.

Transmitters:  Send electronic tax returns to the IRS that were prepared at the VITA site and check the returns for acceptance the next day. Transmitters trouble shoot and fix returns that are rejected by the IRS and may have to contact the filer to fix the rejected return. Returns can be rejected because of incorrect name spelling, incorrect Social Security numbers or tax law issues. Transmitters work a minimum of three hours per week. Training: Tax Law and TaxWise classes or self-study and a passing score on the IRS Certification Exam are required for all VITA Site Tax Transmitters.

Financial Resource Specialist:  Specialists provide information to low- to moderate-income wage earners at free tax preparation sites about asset building opportunities and other community resources, such as housing, healthcare and food assistance. Specialists also deliver education about the effects of predatory lending. Financial Resource Specialists work a minimum of three hours per week. No certification required. Training provided.

Interpreter:  Aid free tax preparation clients by working alongside the tax clients and Tax Preparers. Interpreters work a minimum of three hours per week at the free tax preparation site. Volunteers who speak Spanish are in high demand, other languages are also needed. No training required.

Greeters:  These volunteers welcome tax filers to the free tax site during the tax season. Greeters are responsible for ensuring that tax filers have all the documents and information needed to complete their tax returns. Greeters work a minimum of three hours per week. Some training may be required at some sites.

Employers can also get involved with VITA and the “Earn it. Keep it. Save it.” initiative. There are simple ways to participate—like hanging a poster or putting information in your newsletter. Employers can also give staff time off to volunteer with VITA, host a volunteer training for your employees, or invite a member of the coalition to present to your employees

The VITA program was implemented through the statewide “Earn It. Keep It. Save It.” initiative by local community coalitions that provide free tax preparation services to low- to moderate-income households. VITA volunteers work with tax filers to ensure they receive all of the credits to which they are entitled, including the EITC. “The Earn It. Keep It. Save It.” campaign also works to implement other free tax preparation services through relationships with community partners. To be eligible to for free tax preparation, a household’s income must be less than $40,000.

You can become involved by calling 2-1-1 to volunteer, or visit www.utahtaxhelp.org. If you have questions, please call Jerilyn Stowe, UWSL community impact manager, (801) 736-7710, or email: jerilyn@uw.org.