South Hampton Roads Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition

VOLUNTEER TRAINING FOR THE 2012 TAX FILING SEASON HAS ENDED.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparer for the 2013 tax filing season, please contact Jan Callaghan at 757-664-6020. IRS-certification training will begin in the fall of 2012.

Every year, the VITA program provides free Income Tax Preparation assistance to thousands of eligible applicants. Volunteers from all walks of life work together to help your local tax dollars stay in the community.  IRS Certification is required for some of these positions. Certified volunteer tax preparers are requested to contribute four (4) hours a week or more during the tax filing season which runs from mid-January to mid-April.  Opening dates, and days and hours of operation will vary.

Opportunities will be available for Tax Filing Season 2013 for Greeters, Tax Preparers, Translators, Tax Transmitters, VITA Site Coordinators, BabySitters, and IT Consultants. While some opportunities require knowledge of tax laws and certification, there are many opportunities to volunteer for those who are not familiar with the tax laws.

Greeters

• Greet Taxpayers
• Make sure they are comfortable while they wait

E-File Tax Preparers

• Must be certified as VITA Tax Preparers for 2011 returns
• Must attend the TaxWise 2011 or prior Training Classes
• Interview Taxpayer
• Enter the tax information into TaxWise program in the computer
• Generate an E-File
• Get signatures for E-filing

Translators

• Must be bilingual - since there are people with so many different ethnic backgrounds, there is probably a place for any volunteer who speaks two languages; having taken a class in high school is not necessary; what is necessary is the ability to enable communication between the taxpayer and preparer.
• Help to interview Taxpayer when the Taxpayer is not familiar with the language of the Tax Preparer
• Do not need to pass the Tax Test 2011
• In some cases are spouses of the volunteers

Tax Transmitters

• Must be certified as VITA Tax Preparers for 2011 returns
• Accept E-Files from Tax Preparers (on USB drives or over the network)
• Transmit batches of E-files to the IRS and the State
• Be ready to accept acknowledgements and rework rejects

Site Coordinators

• Must be certified as VITA Tax Preparers for 2011 returns
• Are responsible for overall smooth functioning of the site
• Make sure that copies of required paperwork for E-files are submitted to the IRS in a timely fashion

Baby Sitters

• Do not require certification
• Help to keep young children of taxpayers gainfully occupied while their parent(s) are  having their taxes prepared
• May be children of the volunteers

IT Specialist/Consultant

• Do not require VITA certification
• Work directly with the site coordinator
• Are familiar with PC, printer, and software issues related to using TaxWise
• May be needed to set up and maintain networks