Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Volunteer Orientation

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome and many thanks

Introductions VITA site staff

Volunteers

Let’s get to know each other activity!

What is Earn It! Keep It! Save It!

EKS is a coalition, led by the United Way of the Bay Area, comprised of over 200 partners offering free tax preparation services throughout 7 counties in the Bay Area

Last year, the coalition prepared over 71,000 taxes for low-income taxpayers

This colossal collaboration is only successful because you signed up to volunteer!

What’s in it for you and why this work matters

You will gain first hand knowledge of our tax code and learn how to prepare a tax return

You will have a direct impact in the community you are volunteering in and with each household you help

You are one of thousands of volunteers across the country doing this work

You are helping bring back thousands of dollars into our local economy!

Here at VITA SITE NAME HERE we hope to prepare XXX returns in 2015 with your help! That’s XXX households!

[vita site name] - Logistics

What we do here

Volunteering at VITA SITE NAME HERE How do I sign up for shifts?

What if I can’t make my shift?

Online signup and communication on EKS website

Facilities

Restrooms

Hours of operation

Volunteer Support

You are an integral part of our VITA site, but you are never on your own! Here are resources that you can depend on:

• Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Website:o Manage your volunteer schedule

o Contact your Site Coordinator

o Learn more about taxes and those burning questions you may have

o Interact with fellow volunteers

Site Coordinator and experienced volunteers

Materials at the Tax SiteMaterials that can be found at each volunteer station:

o 4012 – Resource Guide (Spiral Bound) bring with you to the site every week!!

o Pub. 17 – Reference Material

o Form 13614-C – Intake/Interview Sheet

o 1040 Instructions

o California Volunteer Manual

Other resources: For VITA Volunteers:

VITA Hotline – (800) 829-8482

TaxWise Hotline – (800) 411-6391

Can find them on the back of 4012

Do not give these numbers to taxpayers!

For taxpayers’ use:

General IRS Tax Information – (800) 829-1040

Where’s My Refund? – (800) 829-1954 or online at http://www.irs.gov/Refunds

Positions at our site:

o Site Coordinator

o Tax Preparer

o Screener

o Greeter

o Quality Reviewer

[Vita site name] client flow

o Greeting and intake • Interview video

o Screening for eligibility

o Tax preparation

o Quality review

o Reviewing the return with the client

o Finishing up a return

What returns can I prepare?

In-Scope Chart in 4012

You can only prepare returns that are in scope for your certification level To save time, screen all returns before getting to the tax preparation stage

Use your Site Coordinator as a resource

Can refer taxpayers to other sites

AARP sites are certified at the advanced level

DO NOT TRY TO PREPARE A RETURN THAT YOU ARE NOT CERTIFIED TO PREPARE – YOU ARE NOT DOING THE TAXPAYER ANY FAVORS IF YOU PREPARE A RETURN INCORRECTLY!

Special Populations

ITINS- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number• What is an ITIN?

• What can I expect?

• CAA- referral process

Taxpayers with disabilities• Accommodations for taxpayers with disabilities

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vS3pCe0eO4

Professionalism and Confidentiality

Dress code and name badges

Adherence to Title VI

Review Standards of Conduct

Form 13615: Volunteer Agreement

Certification

Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

Other services offered at [vita site name]

Questions?