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V olunteer I ncome T ax A ssistance. Volunteer Orientation. Welcome and Introductions. Welcome and many thanks Introductions VITA site staff Volunteers Lets get to know each other activity!. What is Earn It! Keep It! Save It!.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Orientation
Welcome and Introductions • Welcome and many thanks • Introductions • VITA site staff • Volunteers • Lets 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 68,000 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 2014 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: • Manage your volunteer schedule • Contact your Site Coordinator • Learn more about taxes and those burning questions you may have • Interact with fellow volunteers • Site Coordinator and experienced volunteers
Materials at the Tax Site Materials that can be found at each volunteer station: • 4012 – Resource Guide (Spiral Bound) bring with you to the site every week!! • Pub. 17 – Reference Material • Form 13614-C – Intake/Interview Sheet • 1040 Instructions • 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: • Site Coordinator • Tax Preparer • Screener • Greeter • Quality Reviewer
[Vita site name] client flow • Greeting and intake • Interview video • Screening for eligibility • Tax preparation • Quality review • Reviewing the return with the client • 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