For Volunteers
What do tax volunteers do?
Forsyth
Working Families Partnership offers free income tax preparation for families earning under $50,000 (or individuals up to $24,000)
at a variety of sites from mid-January to mid-April. IRS-certified volunteers file federal and state returns electonically
at no charge to the taxpayer.
There are
two jobs for volunteers: Volunteer Tax Preparer and Intake Coordinator/Greeter.
Volunteer Tax Preparers prepare
basic tax returns, using Tax Wise software, and file them electronically.
Intake Coordinator/Greeters oversee client sign-in, assist clients in completing the Intake sheet and direct
them to the complementary on-site services where available.
Do
I need to be a “math” person to volunteer as a Tax Preparer?
Not at all. All the math is done by computer. You need
to like to meet new people and to think logically, so that you get the information you need to complete the return. You also
need basic computer and typing skills.
How do I get the training?
You must be certified by the IRS at the Basic and Intermediate level to be a Volunteer
Tax Preparer. Intake Coordinator/Greeters must be certified at the Basic level.
There are several ways to get the training and certification:
- A two-day Training Workshop is offered for new volunteers, December
3 and December 10, 2011 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at The Prosperity Center, 585 Waughtown Street. This workshop includes
Tax Law (this teaches you the questions to ask) and using the Tax-Wise software. Workbooks are provided. Contact Kindra Speech to register.
- You can take an online "Link and Learn"
course from the IRS. This interactive course teaches the basics
needed to accurately prepare 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ income tax returns for individuals and is completely self-paced.
The 2011 tax year course and information is available now at http://www.irs.gov/app/vita/ If you do this, you can get the accompanying workbooks from Kindra Speech at EISR or download them as PDF files (see
Links page). These are large publications, so you might not want to print
them. The Link and Learn course also provides Practice Lab using the
online software. Get information about Practice Lab by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
- You can also use the workbooks alone to study for the tests.
- Additional training opportunities are generally offered by the IRS and will be
posted as they are scheduled.
AARP also offers
the training in a several formats in January. Contact Steve Graf at 336-653-9222 for more information.
There is no charge for the training or materials.
How do I take the certification
tests?
In order to be certified, you must
pass the Basic and Intermediate tests, either online or on paper (if on paper, Kindra Speech at EISR will grade your test). If you do it online, you can print out your certificates and bring them to the first session.
How much time am I expected to volunteer?
Volunteer Tax Assistors are
asked to commit at least ten hours a month for the 3-month tax season (30 hours total, mid-January to mid-April), but most
volunteer one or two sessions a week (three to four hours each). You can be flexible and volunteer at different sites as your
schedule permits. You can sign up for the shifts and locations that are most convenient.
Intake Coordinator/Greeters are asked to work for 4 hours at least once a week.
Where are
the tax preparation sites this year?
VITA sites for 2012 (tax year 2011) include libraries and agencies throughout Forsyth County. Locations and times
of operation are on the Sites page.
What if I make a mistake?
No one’s perfect.
But you will be well trained and there are several checks on your work. The tax software catches most errors, and each return
is reviewed by the site manager, a Quality Specialist, or VITA director before it is actually filed.
As a VITA
volunteer you are protected from any liability for any mistakes you make.
How long does it take to prepare a return?
Most returns can be
completed in a half-hour or so. Returns for taxpayers who have multiple employers or many dependents, child care expenses,
and education credits may take longer. Careful preparation is more important than speed. You want to make sure that the taxpayer
reports income and deductions accurately, pays only what he/she owes, and gets the maximum refund for which he/she is eligible.
Why is this free tax preparation program important?
First, you are directly helping people who don’t make a lot of money to get
what they’ve earned. Even if a taxpayer isn’t eligible for the EITC, you have saved them hundreds of dollars that
a tax preparation firm would charge. And if you have filed for the EITC for someone who would otherwise have filed a 1040-EZ
and missed this credit, your work may have added up to $5,700 to their pocket. Think what difference that could make for a
family trying to buy their first house, pay off bills, or just keep their children in clothes and food.
Second,
the EITC helps our local economy. The IRS estimates that Forsyth County taxpayers did not claim $8,000,000 (yes, eight million
dollars) in EITC for which they were eligible. That’s money that could be spent locally and support our local economy.
By offering free tax preparation, you can help ensure that those dollars come home.
I need more information!
Call Kindra Speech at ESR - 722-9400 x 450 for more information or to sign up and get materials. Or send her an email with your contact information.
