Volunteer Opportunities
The DC EITC Campaign mobilizes a volunteer corps of more than 500 community members committed to providing high quality free tax assistance and promoting financial stability for hard-working families.
YOU CAN HELP by volunteering at a tax site as a:
PLEASE NOTE: Starred (*) positions are filled by individuals formally identified by the Campaign prior to the tax season. Depending on the tax site, these roles may be filled by volunteers, or by seasonal paid staff. If you are interested in being considered for one of the positions, send an email to miren@communitytaxaiddc.org. The Campaign will contact interested volunteers based on staffing needs.
** Double-starring of a position connotes a high-need volunteer role
Tax Site Volunteer Opportunities:
o Tax Preparers meet wth our clients and prepare their federal and state income tax returns.
o To volunteer as a tax preparer, you should have relevant experience, which includes preparing your own returns, preparing returns for others, or working with numbers. However, preparers do not need to have significant individual income tax preparation experience since all preparers will be trained by the Campaign and complete the IRS certification process before the tax season begins in late January.
o Tax Preparer volunteers should be able to commit to at least one shift (generally three to four hours) per week during tax season (late January through April 15th- approximately 11 weeks). Exceptions can be made on an individual basis for professional tax preparers and others with extenuating circumstances.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a volunteer location. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for first-year tax preparers will take place in late November.
o Complete volunteer training and IRS certification. First year tax preparers are required to complete three training sessions: Tax Law Basics (4 hours), Basic TaxWise Prepar (4 hours), and a Proctored IRS Certification Class.
o Returning tax preparers are strongly encouraged to certify at least at the Intermediate level.
o All sites will have an on-site orientation meeting, usually during the last week in January.
· At the Tax Sites
o Answer clients’ questions regarding tax preparation.
o Prepare tax returns using TaxWise software program.
o Ensurethat clients understand the tax preparation process.
Client Coordinator
· General Description
o The Client Coordinator initiates the tax preparation process. The Coordinator ensures that taxpayers have all necessary documents and that they qualify for free tax assistance. Once the clients finish working with the preparers, the Client Coordinator provides them with copies of their returns and makes sure all of their questions are answered.
o Client Coordinators must have strong interpersonal and communications skills. They must pay close attention to detail and be able to follow instructions for final file assembly.
o Client Coordinators are encouraged to commit to one shift (generally three to four hours) per week during tax season.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a site location. Volunteers may choose to work at any one of the Campaign’s tax sites. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for first-year tax volunteers will take place in late November.
o Client Coordinators are required to take and pass the IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) online training and pass the VSC certification test.
o Client Coordinators will be trained on-site by their Site Coordinators. The training sessions will take place over 2-4 hours and will cover filing requirements, EITC basics, and administrative issues.
o Client Coordinators are encouraged to attend the basic tax law training session to increase their understanding of the tax process, but they do not have to pass IRS tax preparer certification tests.
· At the Tax Sites
o During intake, volunteers perform an initial screening for eligibility and help clients start their paperwork for free tax preparation.
o At exit, volunteers assemble the final package and ensure that clients receive their copies of all returns and understand the process that has just been completed.
Savings Promoter
· General Description
o Savings Promoters provide information about asset building and savings opportunities. Savings Promoters should be enthusiastic, outgoing, and charismatic, and must be willing to speak with clients about general financial topics. Financial expertise is not required, however, as Savings Promoters are not financial advisors.
o Savings Promoters are highly encouraged to commit to one 3-4 hour shift per week during the 11-week tax season.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a site location. Volunteers may choose to work at any one of the Campaign’s tax sites. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for new volunteers will take place in late November.
o Savings Promoters are required to take and pass the IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) online training and pass the VSC certification test.
o Savings Promoters will attend one training session (3-5 hours) in late January, and are highly encouraged to commit to one 3-4 hour shift per week during the 11-week tax season.
· At the Tax Sites
o Savings Promoters serve as ambassadors to asset building programs in the DC metropolitan area. They approach clients with opportunities to use their refunds to increase their economic security.
o Savings Promoters encourage clients to save a portion of their refunds and work to connect those clients to free financial resources, such as financial education classes and credit counseling.
· General Description
o SNAP Outreach Specialists provide information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the food stamp program), screen clients for eligibility, and help clients complete SNAP applications. SNAP Outreach Specialists must be enthusiastic, outgoing, compassionate, and charismatic, and must be willing to engage clients in a discussion about public benefits programs. Previous experience with SNAP is not required.
o Volunteers are highly encouraged (though not required) to commit to a weekly timeslot (generally three to four hours) during the 11-week tax season at one of the DC sites where the SNAP outreach opportunity is offered.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a site location. Volunteers may choose to work at any one of the Campaign’s tax sites. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for first-year volunteers will take place in late November.
o SNAP Outreach Specialists will attend a 3 hour training in January, and will be will be supported by D.C. Hunger Solutions staff throughout their volunteer stint.
· At the Tax Sites
o SNAP Outreach Specialists canvas the waiting room to find out if clients have heard of SNAP and if they want to learn more. If the client is interested, the volunteer will pre-screen them for SNAP eligibility and will offer application assistance, if appropriate. Clients who complete the application have the option to have D.C. Hunger Solutions submit their application directly to the D.C. agency that administers the SNAP program and determines eligibility.
o Volunteers will track their interactions with clients in a log. Volunteers will also provide clients with information and materials on other food resources and programs available to District residents.
Greeter
· General Description
o Greeters are the first volunteers to work with clients at the tax sites, creating a welcoming environment for clients. They ensure that clients are income eligible and that they have brought the necessary paperwork. Greeters also work with the Site Coordinators to manage the flow of clients through the sites.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a site location. Volunteers may choose to work at any one of the Campaign’s tax sites. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for first-year tax volunteers will take place in late November.
o Greeters are trained by their corresponding Site Coordinators
· At the Tax Sites
o Welcome clients to the sites
o Make sure they have they have brought the required items to proceed with the preparation process
o Determine if an interpreter will be necessary during the process
· General Description
o Interpreters help ease communication for taxpayers with limited English proficiency. Interpreters work closely with tax preparers to ensure that clients understand the tax preparation process. They also make sure that clients comprehend what is required of them so that they may play an active role in the process despite the language barrier.
o Interpreters are encouraged to commit to one shift (generally three to four hours) per week during tax season.
· Prior to Tax Season
o Choose a site location. Volunteers may choose to work at any one of the Campaign’s tax sites. Volunteers can select to work a daytime, weeknight, or weekend shift. Registration for first-year tax volunteers will take place in late November.
o Interpreters are required to take and pass the IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) online training and pass the VSC certification test.
o Interpreters will be trained on-site by their Site Coordinators. The training sessions will take place over 2-4 hours and will cover filing requirements, EITC basics, and administrative issues.
o Interpreters are encouraged to attend the basic tax law training session to increase their understanding of the tax process, but they do not have to pass the IRS tax preparer certification tests.
· At the Tax Sites
o The Campaign needs both interpreters who can commit to specific tax sites and interpreters who will be available on-call for sites that do not have a steady demand for this service and for languages that are not spoken regularly at our tax sites.
o The languages most commonly spoken at tax sites are Spanish, Amharic, Cantonese, Fukien and Mandarin, and there is also a need for Vietnamese, American Sign Language, Arabic, Farsi, Russian, and French.
· Reviewers are responsible for ensuring that returns prepared by the Campaign are accurate and complete. Every tax return is reviewed by a Reviewer who must complete the mandated quality review forms before a tax return is released to a client or filed electronically. Reviewers must attend Quality Reviewer training and be certified at the Advanced level.
* Site Coordinator
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Site Coordinators are responsible for overseeing the operations at a tax site, ensuring that all required procedures are followed and that the site is in compliance with all IRS requirements. They are responsible for managing the workflow at the site and assigning volunteers as needed to ensure efficient operation of the tax site. Site Coordinators should also previous experience working at a Campaign tax site and have a basic understanding of the tax preparation process and ideally certify at least at the Intermediate level. They must complete a required Site Coordinator training class. Site Coordinators are usually identified by the Campaign. If you are interested in serving in this role, contact miren@communitytaxaiddc.org.
Register to volunteer as a Site Coordinator
PLEASE NOTE: Starred (*) positions are filled by individuals formally identified by the Campaign prior to the tax season. Depending on the tax site, these roles may be filled by volunteers, or by seasonal paid staff. If you are interested in being considered for one of the positions, send an email to miren@communitytaxaiddc.org. The Campaign will contact interested volunteers based on staffing needs.
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