VITA Volunteers 2021-2022
Volunteer registration is closed.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact
Nick Miller at
n.miller@micauw.org or (248) 242-1454
.
Project Description
Capital Area United Way is currently recruiting volunteers for the 2021-2022 tax season. VITA Volunteers help keep money in the pockets of Michigan households who need it most. As either a Tax Preparer, Intake Specialist, or Community Resource volunteer you can help us to provide free tax services to those who make $57,000 or less per year. No prior experience or knowledge of taxes is necessary, our comprehensive training program results in an IRS certification, all you need is a general knowledge of computers.
New volunteers are advised to participate in one of our upcoming virtual, orientation sessions taking place on the dates listed below. To RSVP, please email Nick Miller at n.miller@micauw.org.
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Monday, December 13: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Tax Preparers are trained and IRS-certified to provide free income tax preparation services to working families. They help families avoid costly tax preparation fees, steer clear of predatory financial products and make the most of tax-time credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Michigan Home Heating Credit.
Duties:
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Meet individually with clients, interview clients, review tax documents and prepare returns using professional tax software
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Connect clients to meaningful savings opportunities
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Refer clients to pertinent resources in the community that they may be interested in
Qualifications:
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Must successfully complete free tax preparation training & pass IRS-certification test
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Must be willing to maintain client confidentiality
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Ability to build rapport & discuss sensitive financial information with care
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No prior tax experience is required
Time Requirement:
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At least 4-hours of volunteering each week during tax season (end of January to April)
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Participation in 15-20 hours of flexible, virtual training
Training:
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Tentatively, virtual tax training will begin to be posted in November, and be accessible anywhere with an internet connection. The sessions will follow pre-defined curriculum and allow volunteers to go at their own pace.
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Short, in-person sessions will begin shortly after. All sessions will be recorded and can be viewed afterwards if attendance is not possible.
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Both new and returning Volunteer Tax Preparers must pass an open-book IRS-certification exam
Benefits:
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Gain professional skills while helping individuals and families improve their financial stability
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Free tax law and tax preparation training, culminating in IRS certification
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Support from trained tax professionals
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Professional development and networking opportunities
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Make new friends
Intake Specialists help to ensure that clients are able to access our free tax service by assisting them with the completion of forms as well as scanning and uploading documents to our secure, cloud-based database.
Duties:
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Greet and direct new and returning clients
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Respond to clients' questions
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Scan and upload client's completed forms and tax information
Qualifications:
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Able to work with a diverse population in a professional manner
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Willingness to help people and answer questions
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Must successfully complete free intake/interview training & pass IRS-certification test
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Must be willing to maintain client confidentiality
-
No prior tax or customer service experience is required
Time Requirement:
-
At least four hours of volunteering each week during tax season (end of January to April)
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Participation in 3-5 hours of flexible, virtual training
Training:
-
Virtual training takes place beginning in November.
-
Both new and returning intake specialists must pass an open-book IRS-certification exam
Benefits:
-
Gain professional skills while helping individuals and families boost their financial stability
-
Professional development and networking opportunities
-
Make new friends
Community Resource Volunteers help to ensure that clients gain access to invaluable community services and that our sites run as smoothly as they can by verifying documentation, answering clients' initial questions, and directing the movement of clients from preparation to quality review.
Duties:
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Greet and direct new and returning clients
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Refer clients to beneficial resources available in the community based on materials provided by the Capital Area United Way
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Enter client responses to surveys
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Respond to clients' questions
Qualifications:
-
Able to work with a diverse population in a professional manner
-
Willingness to help people and answer questions
-
Must successfully complete free intake/interview training & pass IRS-certification test
-
Must be willing to maintain client confidentiality
-
No prior tax or customer service experience is required
Time Requirement:
-
At least four hours of volunteering each week during tax season (end of January to April)
-
Participation in 5-10 hours of flexible, virtual training with a limited in-person component
Training:
-
Virtual training takes place beginning in November.
-
Both new and returning Community Resource Volunteers must pass an open-book IRS-certification exam
Benefits:
-
Gain professional skills while helping individuals and families boost their financial stability
-
Professional development and networking opportunities
-
Make new friends
Community Partner - Capital Area United Way – VITA Program
Capital Area United Way – VITA Program Accommodations
- Additional registration or documentation required:
https://micauw.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=604742
About Capital Area United Way – VITA Program
At Capital Area United Way (CAUW) we are uniting people and resources to solve defined problems and improve the quality of life for individuals and families in our communities.
CAUW's VITA program is just one way we do this, providing services to thousands of families and individuals in our eight-county area every year. We ensure that households avoid costly tax preparation fees and predatory financial products such as refund anticipation loans, and gain knowledge about their taxes and general finances.
Website:
www.micauw.org
Project Date
Nov. 1, 2021 - April 15, 2022
Project Locations and Shifts
Due to the virtual nature of this project, no physical location is associated.
This project has no shifts. Volunteers can work on it at any time.Project Coordinator
Volunteer registration is closed.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact
Nick Miller at
n.miller@micauw.org or (248) 242-1454
.