Don't Mess With Taxes

If you have a big heart like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz classic movie, consider helping out fellow taxpayers as a volunteer during the coming tax-filing season.

Volunteering is getting a lot of attention right now, as people are doing what they can to help each other in areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene. These good deed doers are as critical as the official government and organized philanthropic organization workers.

The Internal Revenue Service also depends on volunteers every filing season. They are the IRS-trained people who staff Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) operations across the United States every tax-filing season.

Free help for certain filers: For decades, the IRS and its community partners of national, state, and local groups, have helped millions of low-to-moderate income and older taxpayers meet their annual tax return filing obligations at no cost.

VITA is the granddaddy of volunteer filing assistance. Its volunteers have been offering free tax assistance for more than 50 years. Eligible taxpayers are those making less than a certain income level. The earnings cut-off this past filing season was $64,000.

Persons with disabilities, as well as those whose native language is not English, also are welcome to get help at VITA sites.

The TCE program also offers free tax help to those who are age 60 and older. TCE volunteers specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

VITA and TCE sites can be found nationwide. All are operated by volunteers who want to help their neighbors comply with the often scary and frustrating annual tax return filing process.

Volunteer, but trained: Some VITA and TCE assistors come from the tax community. They are former tax professionals or tax law educators who want to keep sharing their knowledge, this time on their own dime.

But you don't have to have a tax background to staff a VITA or TCE site. The IRS will train you.

In fact, the IRS requires all VITA and TCE volunteers who prepare returns to take and pass tax law instruction that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information.

In addition to ensuring that VITA and TCE volunteers are knowledgeable about tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA or TCE site before it is electronically filed.

And if you’re not comfortable, even with the IRS training, in helping others complete and file their tax returns, there are other options. Available positions include interpreters, greeters, and computer specialists.

Volunteer opportunities: Helping VITA and TCE clients fill out and file their taxes is, of course, a key available volunteer position for the upcoming 2024 tax filing season.

As a volunteer tax preparer, you'll complete and be successfully certified in tax law training, including the use of electronic filing software, so you can provide free tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers.

But there are other needs at the volunteer tax help sites. They include —

• Interpreter — You provide free language interpreter services to customers who are not fluent in English. Basic tax knowledge is helpful, but it is not required for this position.
• Greeter/Screener — You greet everyone visiting the site to create a pleasant atmosphere. You screen taxpayers to determine the type of assistance they need and confirm they have the necessary documents to complete their tax returns. Tax law certification is not required for this position.
• Quality Reviewer — You review tax returns completed by volunteer tax preparers, ensuring that every taxpayer receives top quality service and that the tax returns are error-free. You must be tax law certified at least at the Intermediate level.
• Marketing Specialist — If marketing is your métier, then VITA and TCE can use your skills. Many site partners would love to use your expertise to get the word about their tax-preparation locations to the community.
• Instructor — Once you complete online certification in tax law at the advanced level or higher and familiarize yourself with any software updates, you can train other volunteers. The classes you'll lead will be in a classroom setting or online.
• Computer Specialist — You have a working knowledge of personal computers, software, and communications systems. Tax law certification is not required for this position. Although you may have less taxpayer interaction than most VITA and TCE volunteers, you must be patient with those individuals who may not be as computer literate.

VITA and TCE sites usually are open from late January through the tax filing deadline in April.

In many cases, volunteer hours are flexible, to not only make things easier for making time to help, but also for the taxpayers who need the filing assistance. Many VITA and TCE sites are open at night and on weekends.

Virtual volunteers also offer tax help: The in-person help from VITA and TCE sites are under the auspices of community groups that work with the IRS.

The tax help operations usually are in libraries, community centers, schools, senior citizen meeting halls, religious facilities, or other public locations.

But it is the 21st century. Most of us have adopted digital transactions as a routine way of life. Plus, we all became more comfortable with electronic interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRS has taken such remote access lessons to heart. Some VITA and TCE assistance now is virtual, including ways to volunteer. With the virtual VITA/TCE option, you can help your neighbors and community from the comfort of your home if that's what you prefer.

And at both in-person and virtual VITA and TCE sites, hours are often flexible. Many operate at night and on weekends, so you should be able to find a location and times that fit your schedule.

Sign up now: If you want more information before deciding to volunteer, visit IRS.gov's tax volunteers page. You also can get a visual preview in the IRS YouTube video below.
    

The IRS’ peak period for recruiting volunteers is October (hence this post) through January, when the annual filing starts later in that month. But you can sign up any time.

In non-recruitment months, your information will be held until IRS partners are accepting volunteers for the next filing season. If you signed up within the last two months, you do not need to sign up again unless your contact information has changed.

If you decide you want to become a VITA or TCE volunteer, you can use the IRS’ online VITA/TCE Volunteer and Partner Sign Up tool. Within 14 days or so, the IRS will provide a list of available local VITA/TCE sites and an invitation to a virtual orientation.

The IRS also stresses that it's looking for volunteers from all backgrounds and of all ages, as well as individuals who are fluent in other languages. 

But mainly, the tax agency and the community groups that host VITA and TCE sites are looking for folks who want to help others.

You also might find these items of interest:

• IRS awards $51 million to VITA & TCE program sponsors
• 24 states will participate in IRS’ enhanced 2025 Direct File
• VITA & TCE volunteers can help some filers complete their taxes

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