NH Earned Income Tax Credit

Job Description

This individual is responsible for providing free tax preparation services to low/moderate income taxpayers in the designated community during the tax season (February 1 to April 15) at a VITA designated location.

Prior to Site Opening:

• Complete a self-paced, online IRS Link and Learn training session and passing both the Basic and Intermediate modules (Link and Learn is located at: www.irs.gov/app/vita/index.jsp). Approximately 40 hours for new volunteers, and 5-10 hours for returning preparer volunteers.

• Attend a TaxWise software and volunteer orientation training session. Approximately 10 hours for both new and returning volunteers.

During the Tax Season:

• Commit to a minimum of 8 volunteer hours per month/16 hours per tax season. We work with YOUR schedule and availability; day/evening, weekday/Saturday volunteer opportunities available.

Tax Preparation Services:

• Provide quality tax return assistance to taxpayers.

• Prepare returns based on taxpayer's documentation and preparer's tax law training. (1040EZ).

• Inquiring client for valid tax information necessary to claim particular credits or deduction the taxpayer may be eligible to claim.

• Preparing tax returns using electronic filing software (TaxWise).

• Identifying all returns with the site number (SIDN).

• Qualify reviewing of tax returns.

• Ensuring a copy of the completed return is provided to the taxpayer.

• Ensuring taxpayer provides signature(s) on all signature forms (1040, 8453, etc.)

Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Site Greeter

Job Description

This individual is responsible for greeting and organizing the customers prior to working with the tax preparer.

• Set up a Welcome Area for the client to include the following items:

• Pencils/Pens
• Tax Preparation Information Worksheets/Intake forms

• Greet and welcome the client.

• Ensure the customer has brought the following items:

• W-2's and 1099's
• Social Security Cards for themselves and the children they wish to claim on their tax return
• Unemployment Compensation Information
• Prior Year Federal Tax Return (if they have it)
• Voided check for direct deposit

• Ask the customer to complete the Client Sign-In Form, Client Survey and Client Contact Form.

• Review the form to make sure that it is complete and the Client or you have:

• Spelled the first and last names correctly and it matches the Social Security Cards
• If a joint return is filed, both husband and wife must be present
• The current mailing address
• Daytime and evening or cell phone numbers (for IRS contact, if necessary)
• Filing Status - Customer should check the box to the best of their knowledge - Tax Preparer can review the rules of each status if necessary
• Completed all Dependent information
• Correctly entered the Date of Birth
• Correctly entered Direct Deposit Information
• Checked their ID (Driver's License)

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Site Coordinator

Job Description

This individual is responsible for the overall activities of the VITA site. They are the contact person for the site, and act as the liaison between the other site volunteers and the coalition team.

Prior to Site Opening:

• Contact each of your volunteers to identify yourself and welcome them to the site.

• Hold an informal gathering for the volunteers at the site. This will allow the volunteers to become comfortable with the location, computers and each other.

• Ensure that Adobe Acrobat is loaded on each computer in order to print the forms for the customers.

• Contact the volunteers scheduled for each session to confirm they will be at the site as scheduled.

• Contact your Coalition Coordinator / Contact if you encounter problems you are unable to resolve on your own.

Site Operations:

• You should arrive one-half hour prior to opening to set up the site.

• Turn on designated computers.

• Place Tax Preparer Procedures at each computer station.

• Set out the reference information (other site's information, telephone numbers, etc) for use by the volunteers in a centralized location.

• Make sure there is a sufficient number of a Tax Preparation Information Sheets-intake sheets.

• Thank each volunteer for his/her efforts at the end of the session.

• If using TaxWise software at your site, the coordinator is responsible for transacting all the e-file returns.

• Turn off / Power off computers.

• Secure the site.

• Within 24 hours run the appropriate reports and confirm that all returns transmitted were accepted.

VITA Site Coordinator Resources

2007 Filing Season Kicks Off: Find out all about new features, tax breaks and how to claim certain deductions on tax forms this year at :

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=165667,00.html

IRS Volunteer Coordinators’ Handbook: Coming Together to Strengthen Communities. A handbook for site coordinators and an information guide for partners. Internal Revenue Service. Available at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1084.pdf

Maximizing The Earned Income Tax Credit in Your Community: A tool kit for Municipal Leaders (© 2004). National League of Cities and The Institute for Youth, Education and Families. Available at: http://www.nassembly.org/nassembly/documents/EITCToolkitPrintVersion.pdf

EITC Information for IRS Partners:

http:www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id+96456,00.html

EITC Tax Preparation Campaign Pointers:

http://www.aspencsg.org/rufes/january_2007/eitc_pointers.html#resources