Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Tax Assistance

Our volunteers build financial stability
through free tax assistance.

Volunteers drive financial stability by providing tax assistance. United Way’s Tax Assistance Program needs your help to support select in-person tax sites as well as a new virtual tax assistance service.

How It Works

Becoming a United Way Tax Assistance Program volunteer requires no prior knowledge or experience. We have several roles available to match a variety of skills and interests. Click here to watch a video created by the Get It Back Campaign to show you what being a volunteer will be like. Getting involved is easy – follow our steps below: 

  1. Complete the new volunteer interest form.
  2. Attend a volunteer meet and greet information session (dates and times will be posted in fall 2023).
  3. Choose a volunteer role. We have several roles available to match a variety of skills and interests.
  4. Attend a training. You will be trained by IRS-certified tax instructors and receive IRS training materials. 
  5. Pass certification tests, and turn in paperwork.
  6. Sign up for volunteer shifts.
  7. Start helping your community!

Join Us for an Information Session!

Interested in becoming a United Way Tax Assistance Program volunteer? View this recorded slide deck: 2023 Tax Volunteer Orientation

Then contact our tax team for next steps: tax@yourunitedway.org

Volunteer Roles

Details:

SET A GOOD TONE

Do you want to ensure that everyone feels welcome in our tax assistance sites? Greeter/Screeners are the first point of contact for clients entering a United Way tax assistance site. You will ensure that clients have the necessary documents and direct them through the intake process. This role is crucial to ensuring a smooth and efficient flow.

This role is also available virtually. Virtual volunteers will receive additional training on the ticketing system which is used to communicate with volunteers.

Training:

Optional Greeter/Screener training.

Certification:

Must pass Intake/Interview & Quality Review exam and Volunteer Standards of Conduct exam.

Details: 

TRANSLATE FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING CLIENTS

Volunteers in this role provide free interpretation services to clients who are not fluent in English. Basic tax knowledge is helpful for interpreting some financial jargon, but not required.

Training:

None

Certification:

Must pass Intake/Interview & Quality Review exam and Volunteer Standards of Conduct exam.

Details:

DO THE CLIENTS’ TAXES

Tax Preparer is the most vital volunteer role at any of our community-based tax sites. You will directly provide free tax preparation services to United Way Tax Assistance Program site clients using IRS-approved online software.

Training:

May either attend a United Way tax preparation training or use training materials available on the IRS website.

Certification:

VITA Basic certification is required. Must pass Intake/Interview & Quality Review exam and Volunteer Standards of Conduct Exam.

Details: 

DOUBLE CHECK CLIENTS TAX RETURNS

All tax returns prepared at United Way Tax Assistance Program sites must be reviewed for optimal quality before filing. Quality Reviewers look over completed returns to ensure they are accurate and most advantageous to the taxpayer.

Training:

May either attend a United Way tax preparation training or use training materials available on the IRS website.

Certification:

VITA Advanced certification is required. Must pass Intake/Interview & Quality Review exam and Volunteer Standards of Conduct Exam.

Volunteer Training Information

Training is very important to our United Way Tax Assistance Program. We make sure that all volunteers are prepared when tax season begins. This year, we will be offering both in-person and virtual training classes. Registration is required. Please contact tax@yourunitedway.org to register and, if you will be training virtually, to coordinate a time to pick up printed training materials for our virtual training classes or self-certification.

In-Person and Virtual Instruction:

We will hold both in-person and virtual training options. Registration is required. Training will cover material related to the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview and Quality Review process, Tax Law and TaxSlayer software training.

Self-Study:

Volunteer tax preparers have the option to complete tax training independently through an e-learning platform. Independent study is recommended for returning volunteers and those with tax preparation experience. Click here to see the self-study modules.

Active Volunteers: Sign in Here

This login is for active volunteers who have completed all certification requirements.  Login credentials are provided by United Way staff.  E-mail tax@yourunitedway.org with questions.