ABOUT EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT

EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT ALLIANCE

MONEY BUILDER

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE Info & Links

How to Start a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site

Starting a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site

Site Requirements for a Free Tax Preparation Site

Client Sign-In Form

Client Survey

Client Contact Form

Tax Preparation Information Sheet   

Volunteer Return Preparation Program Critical Intake Data

Volunteer Job Descriptions

Sustainability

Volunteer Recruitment Fact Sheet-Volunteers Help Families Finance Their Future

Resources for Site Coordinators

Volunteer Protection Act Of 1997

Site Requirements for a Free Tax Preparation Site

Sites can be located anywhere in an area where there is sufficient population and are basically staffed by volunteers. Military VITA sites are located on military bases (both domestic and international) and provide basic tax return preparation assistance to members of the Armed Forces, their dependents and in some locations, other employees at U.S. military establishment.

VITA Site Management

This includes the initial and subsequent ordering and stocking of forms and publications, scheduling volunteers, making appointments, stocking supplies such as pencils, capturing and reporting data when required, ensuring site publicity, ensuring that the correct EFIN is reflected in the preparer section, either VITA or TCE, is reflected in the preparer section of both e-file and paper returns, and conducting quality review of volunteer prepared returns.

• Computer and Printers - Providing the hardware and software to e-file federal returns. This includes initial set up of all equipment, loading appropriate printer drivers, loading of tax preparation software, providing e-file transmission services, and ensuring individual taxpayer information is deleted from the computers at the end of the filing season.
• Recruitment of Volunteers- See volunteer recruitment section of this Web site.  
• Training and Testing of Volunteers – This also includes ordering the necessary training and instructor material for training classes. All partners must test volunteers (See IRM 22.30.1.4.6.9 for exceptions) using the IRS VITA volunteer test, even if they don’t use IRS training material, to certify the competency of the volunteers.
• Supplies – Includes the furnishing of supply items such as computer paper, pencils, calculators, printer cartridges, etc.
• E-File Transmission Services – Includes the transmission of e-filed returns, resolving and re-transmitting e-file rejects, loading tax preparation software updates, managing the Form 8453 process or the self-select PIN process. Managing the Form 8453 process includes ensuring that signatures are secured on the Form 8453 and mailed to the appropriate Submission Processing Center, retaining copies of the Form 8453, and ensuring that individual taxpayer information is deleted after the end of the filing season.
• Recognition of Volunteers – Planning and conducting volunteer recognition ceremonies.
• Space – Securing or providing appropriate space for the VITA site to conduct tax return preparation services during the filing season.

In addition the following responsibilities apply to the territory office:

• Clarify program guidelines for VITA program sponsors
• Ensure VITA volunteers are kept apprised with all policy changes and information that affects the program.
• Maintain list of volunteer names for each VITA site that have successfully passed the test. In addition, a list should be maintained on the volunteers that were exempt from the test.
• Maintain a list of VITA site names, hours or operation and locations.
• Ensure all VITA site information is input timely and accurately to STARS/QPID.
• Conduct periodic monitoring visits to VITA sites to ensure the proper guidelines are being followed.
• Serve as the first point of contact with the IRS for program concerns.
• Assist with the implementation of the VITA e-filing program by addressing questions or concerns the site coordinators may have. Responsible for submitting the software orders, based on need of your site coordinators and assisting in the installation of the software once it is received by the sponsor. Based on funding and availability, providing e-filing supplies and computer equipment to the sponsors that operate e-filing sites, utilizing SPEC’s VITA Business Model as a tool for the e-file minimum standards. See IRM 22.30.1.4.3 for information on the VITA Business Model.
• Ensure all VITA sites are displaying the Title VI Civil Rights Poster(s) based on the requirement under the Department of Justice regulation 28CFR Section 42.405 (a)-(d).
• Provide support to the VITA site throughout the duration of the program activity.
• Provide VITA Site Manager with SPEC Territory Manager's contact name and phone number.