VITA Volunteers

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers provide free tax help to working families and 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 ethical standards to establish public trust.

Responsibilities:

• Attend new and/or refresher tax law training as needed, including software training. (Approximately 24 hours of training is necessary 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 the 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.
• Initiate and complete the Intake/Interview Quality Review Sheet with each assigned taxpayer.
• Review all relevant documents and worksheets for tax return accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with 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.
• Adhere to all Quality Site Requirements.

Requirements:

• Basic computer skills
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification
• Pass Intake and 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 817-258-8113 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org

The ideal volunteer candidate for this position will keep track of volunteer hours as well as referral forms filled out on site. In addition, they will enter Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) information, make copies and prepare client packets.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Reception/intake coverage outside of agency building
• Assist with physical duties, including setting up tables 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

Requirements:

• 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. You may be exposed to outside weather conditions, including rainy or cold weather, and must be comfortable with standing for extended periods.

You’ll also be required to adhere to Covid-19 CDC and UWTC VITA Partner’s guidelines and will be provided with personal protective equipment, if needed.

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

The VITA Savings Ambassador helps each client make the most of their refund with tips on saving money and helps unbanked clients acquire a bank card.

Roles:

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

Responsibilities:

• Attend training to learn the enrollment process of the U.S. Bank Focus 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 who need help learning about VITA savings products and bank cards.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Ensure compliance with all federal IRS rules and regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information.
• Adhere to all Quality Site Requirements.

Requirements:

• 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

The VITA Greeter/Intake Specialists greet and screen all taxpayers to ensure they have the necessary information and documentation required to complete a tax return. In addition, Intake Specialists explain the VITA packet to each taxpayer, assist them in completing information and ensure they are aware of all services available. Intake Specialists are required to attend a one-hour training session.

Responsibilities:

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

Requirements:

• Attend two-hour training
• Basic computer skills
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification
• Pass Intake and 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.

The Advance Certified IRS Quality Reviewer serves as the tax expert for a tax site and is responsible for ensuring that all returns prepared meet the quality requirements of the IRS VITA program.  Quality Reviewers review each tax return completed by a volunteer, correct errors and provide tax knowledge and guidance to volunteers.   

Roles:

• After Advance certification training, provide review of returns prepared by certified IRS tax preparers to ensure tax returns are correct and ready for electronic filing.
• Must be able to answer tax questions related to each taxpayers return.
• Quality Reviewer Volunteers will provide free, high-quality service and uphold the highest ethical standards to establish public trust.

Responsibilities:

• Attend advanced and/or refresher tax law training as needed, including software training. 
• Successfully pass the required test (Advance Certification with a score of 80% or higher (test can be taken twice).
• Provide high-quality assistance to all taxpayers and tax preparers. Directly prepare the taxpayer's return based on information provided by the taxpayer and answer tax-related questions.
• Review only those tax returns for which training and certification were provided.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Review the Intake/Interview Quality Review Sheet with each assigned taxpayer and tax preparer.
• Review all relevant documents and worksheets for tax return accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with 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.
• Adhere to all Quality Site Requirements.

Requirements:

• Basic computer skills
• Answer tax law questions
• Pass Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification
• Pass Intake and Quality Review Certification
• Attend training/pass IRS Advance Tax Preparer Certification

Additional information:

The Quality Reviewer works out of one of the VITA community-based sites. For information, contact our office at 817-258-8113 or VITA@unitedwaytarrant.org.

The VITA Interpreter provides free interpretation and translation services to Spanish-speaking clients not fluent in English or who need assistance understanding the tax preparation process and all the services available to them.

Responsibilities:

• Greet clients in a courteous manner upon arrival and departure.
• Provide interpretation and translation services to clients 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