How to Start a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site
Sustainability
Setting Short- and Long-Term Goals
Local efforts to promote the EITC can range from a few simple efforts to publicize the credit to a year-round campaign that includes outreach, free tax-preparation, linkages to other benefits, and opportunities to use an EITC refund as a foundation for asset development. Each city or town will need to determine appropriate first year goals based on the amount of time they have to plan, the leadership and staff time dedicated to the effort, and the enthusiasm of local partners. While budgets may eventually play a part in shaping what can or cannot be done, fundraising and efforts to generate in-kind contributions can be part of the team’s plan of action so money should not limit a coalition’s plans at the outset.
But even those coalitions that need to start small may want to begin thinking about what they hope to accomplish down the road based on their assessment of local needs and resources. For instance, a city may find that a significant percentage of families in one neighborhood are not claiming the EITC and have no access to bank accounts. In the short-term, the coalition may choose to educate the community about the credit and set up a few free tax preparation sites. A longer term goal may be to help start a community-based credit union at which EITC refunds could be direct deposited.
The coalition should also think about sustainability and growth challenges during this goal setting process. Will sponsors and volunteers be willing to participate beyond the first year? How will the community find funding to expand the scope of services in future years? It can be helpful for new coalitions to talk to campaigns that have already tackled some of these challenges. The National League of Cities and National Community Tax Coalition both provide regular opportunities for cross-city sharing.
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Resources and Technical Assistance
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) - AARP offers free, quality tax preparation services to people of all ages with moderate and low income, with special attention to those ages 60 and older. AARP Tax-Aide may be able to assist in starting or strengthening free tax sites. For more information, contact Fran Brenneman, National Partnerships and Communications Coordinator at 800-424-AARP (2277) x6001 or fbrenneman@aarp.org.
Annie E. Casey Foundation - The Casey Foundation supports a national EITC outreach campaign entitled "Earn It! Keep It! Save It!" and specifically supports 28 cities located across the country. For more information about the campaign and Casey’s site, visit: www.aecf.info.
The Brookings Institution - Brookings has several publications highlighting EITC data in metropolitan areas and exploring the impact of the EITC and rapid refund loans. To view Brooking’s publications visit: www.brook.edu/es/urban/eitc.htm or contact Alan Berube at aberube@brookings.edu.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - The Center offers a free tool kit: Make Tax Time Pay! This kit includes a wealth of information on the EITC and Child Tax Credit, outreach strategies, and campaign materials (available in multiple languages). To obtain a copy of the kit visit www.cbpp.org or contact John Wancheck at wancheck@cbpp.org or 202-408-1080.
City of Chicago, Illinois - The city designed a free kit entitled "Mayor Daley’s Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Initiative" that includes template letters, press releases, and advice. To learn more about Chicago’s effort contact Myer Blank, Executive Director of the Chicago Tax Assistance Center, at mblank@cityofchicago.org.
Community Action Project of Tulsa County (CAPTC) - CAPTC provides free tax preparation assistance each year to tens of thousands of Tulsans. The organization, supported by the City of Tulsa, has become an expert at reaching EITC eligible residents and reaching out to potential volunteers. For more information, contact Steven Dow, Executive Director, Community Action Project of Tulsa County at sdow@captc.org.
Corporate Voices for Working Families - Corporate Voices is a non-partisan, non-profit corporate membership organization created to bring the private sector voice into the public dialogue on issues affecting working families. They offer an EITC Toolkit for employers entitled: Employers Supporting Working Families. The kit offers a guide to help businesses promote the credit and provides a variety of templates to download and customize. The kit is available online at www.cvworkingfamilies.org/toolkits/eitc/index.html or by contacting Lynn Mitchell at lmitchell@cvworkingfamilies.org.
I-CAN!EIC™ - If a campaign is interested in using I-CAN! EIC™ to promote self-preparation, visit www.icanefile.org/programs/ and click "Become a Partner". Partnering requires communities to register online in order to receive I-CAN! EIC™ updates and requires coalitions to sign a partnership agreement. The agreement outlines the usage rules and information related to the use of the tool. Organizations cannot charge clients to the use the tool and must agree to certain liabilities outlined in the agreement. The partnership also gives coalitions access to various resources and tools such as sample brochures and flyers, public service announcements. For more information on this on-line tax assistance program, contact Gabrielle Hammond, National Technology Assistance Project, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, by phone at 310-319-2084 or by email at Gabrielle@gabriellehammond.com.
Internal Revenue Service - The IRS offers:
For more information on IRS materials, contact Donald Dill at Donald.dill@irs.gov.
Organizations may find out how to apply to become an Acceptance Agent for ITIN applications by calling Sharon Bradley with the IRS ITIN Program Office at: 404-338-7085 or sharon.bradley@irs.gov.
Internal Revenue Service, Stakeholder Partnership Education & Communication Division (SPEC) - IRS territory managers are located across the country. To locate the appropriate IRS staff for your area, email Donald.dill@irs.gov. IRS staff may be able to assist with free tax software for tax preparation sites and free training for volunteers. However, it is important to note that agency resources vary across the country. For more information, see: www.nheitc.org/pages/IRS/IRS_SPEC.htm
National Community Tax Coalition - The Coalition hosts an informational web site at: www.tax-coalition.org which includes background information on the EITC, downloadable templates and resources to assist with starting an EITC campaign, and links to advocacy efforts. For more information on the Coalition, contact Julie Kruse at jkruse@centerforprogress.org or 312-630-0254.
National Community Tax Coalition - The Coalition’s web site at: www.tax-coalition.org includes information on outreach to eligible EITC filers, potential volunteers, and the media. The site offers template flyers and sample press kits and conference releases. The site also offers advice on tax site set up and job descriptions for site volunteers and staff. For more information, contact Jackie Lynn Coleman, Outreach Coordinator, Center for Economic Progress, JLColeman@centerforprogress.org.
National EITC Outreach Partnership (NEOP) - This partnership includes national membership organizations that are encouraging their members to lead EITC outreach, free tax preparation, and asset development initiatives. The NEOP website contains links to various organizations that may provide tailored messages for a variety of local stakeholders (e.g. businesses, volunteer organizations, United Ways, etc.). See: http://www.centeronbudget.org/eitc-partnership.
Project, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, by phone at 310-319-2084 or by email at Gabrielle@gabriellehammond.com.
National Immigration Law Center (NILC) - NILC offers multilingual versions of EITC outreach flyers. NILC also provides more guidance on ITINs in its fact sheet "Immigrants and the Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN): How Can the ITIN Be Used to Show Identity?" For flyers or the fact sheet, contact Marielena Hincapie at hincapie@nilc.org.
Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network - Points of Light is a great resource for strategies around volunteer recruitment. They offer a community engagement brochure and advice on volunteer roles and recruitment at www.pointsoflight.org/programs/eitc/default.cfm.
United Way of America (UWA) - UWA is committed to advancing the role of the United Way system in EITC and asset building initiatives across the country. The organization recently began a project to increase the number of United Ways who engage in community-based EITC campaigns and who link EITC to asset development strategies. UWA produced a report for its members and their partners that highlights the role of the United Way in local EITC campaigns called Exploring United Way Engagement in EITC Campaigns. The report is available on UWA’s website at: http://national.unitedway.org/eitc. For more information, contact: Emily DeMaria at Emily.DeMaria@uwa.unitedway.org.
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Connecting Families to Benefits Beyond EITC
Overall Resources
Nutritional Supports
Free and Low-Cost Health Insurance
Asset Building
Interested in starting an asset building program? Consult:
Financial Literacy
Banking the Unbanked
Debt & Credit Counseling
Individual Development Accounts
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