Take an active role in your community and become a tax volunteer — a chance to touch many lives
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity in our community? Here’s your chance to lend a helping hand. You can learn to prepare taxes and make a difference at the same time by becoming a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
You’ll receive quality training to provide free tax help for low-to-moderate-income families who need assistance preparing their tax returns. Every filing season, tax volunteers make a huge difference in their communities by helping prepare millions of tax returns at thousands of free tax prep sites nationwide. Only 200 free tax returns were prepared last year here in Conway, but with your help, many more returns can be completed.
As a tax volunteer, you’ll be assigned to work with a sponsoring organization such as Arkansas Asset Builders. Once you complete your training, you will begin volunteering at a location in your community. Tax sites are generally open various days, nights and weekends, and the hours are flexible.
Interested?
For additional information and next steps, submit your inquiry now using the IRS’s Volunteer Sign Up form and you will be one step closer to becoming a VITA tax volunteer and giving back to your community. You can also email volunteer@arkansasassetbuilders.org with questions about local volunteer opportunities.
As a volunteer, you’ll get all the specialized training you need, so there is no need to worry if you have limited knowledge of tax law. You can also choose a volunteer role that doesn’t require tax law certification. There is something for everyone.
Here are some of the volunteer roles needed at free tax preparation sites:
Greeter/Screener — as a greeter/screener, you’ll greet everyone visiting the site. This role is perfect for those who have no interest in preparing tax returns but love socializing and talking to people. You’ll screen taxpayers to determine the type of assistance they need and confirm they brought all the necessary documents to have their tax returns completed. Tax law certification is not required for this position.
Interpreter — as an interpreter, you’ll provide language interpretation services to customers who are not fluent in English. Arkansas Asset Builders is specifically looking for Spanish language interpreters for the upcoming tax season. Basic tax knowledge is helpful but not required for this position.
Tax Preparer — after successfully completing your tax law certification, as a volunteer tax preparer, you will provide free tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers using electronic filing software. Tax law certification is required for this volunteer role.
Quality Reviewer — as a quality reviewer, you will conduct a quality review of all tax returns completed by volunteer tax preparers, ensuring that every taxpayer receives quality service and an accurate tax return. Tax law certification is required for this volunteer role.
Savings Coach — as a savings coach, you will work alongside tax preparers and greeters/screeners to encourage taxpayers to save a portion of their refund. Tax law certification is not required for this volunteer role.
Contact Arkansas Asset Builders to learn more how you can volunteer
volunteer@arkansasassetbuilders.org
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