T ENNESSEE S TUDENT A SSISTANCE C ORPORATION College 101 Preparing for College.
V OLUNTEER I NCOME T AX A SSISTANCE Volunteer Orientation.
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Transcript of 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!
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:o Manage your volunteer scheduleo Contact your Site Coordinatoro Learn more about taxes and those burning questions
you may haveo Interact with fellow volunteers
Site Coordinator and experienced volunteers
MATERIALS AT THE TAX SITE
Materials 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 Materialo Form 13614-C – Intake/Interview Sheeto 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
[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