Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program: What it is and how to get involved
As a young tax professional, you’ll benefit from digging into the industry and gaining as much experience as possible. If you’re also passionate about using your specialized skills to help others, joining the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program may be the perfect fit.
Summary
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, managed by the IRS and operated through partner organizations, utilizes IRS-certified volunteers to provide free, reliable tax preparation and counseling to qualifying individuals who need support, generally including those who make less than $67,000 annually, have a disability, or possess limited English language skills.
What is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program?
Managed by the IRS and operated through partner organizations, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation to qualifying individuals.
IRS-certified volunteers provide tax counseling and services that are free, reliable, and trusted for quality and compliance in tax returns. These volunteers must pass IRS tax law training, including maintaining the privacy of their client information.
VITA volunteers prepare millions of tax returns and Facilitated Self-Assistance returns each year.
Who qualifies for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance?
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is designed for those who need the most support in preparing and filing their tax returns.
This generally includes those who:
- Make an annual gross income less than $67,000
- Have a disability
- Are taxpayers with limited English language skills
Those benefiting from VITA must also provide a valid ID and, in some states, cannot be filing as “Married Filing Separate.”
Who serves in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program?
VITA is open to anyone who wishes to give back to their community—with roles like greeter, interpreter, and coordinator who don’t require any tax experience or certifications. But to provide tax council, prepare tax returns, review return quality, or become a program training instructor, you must have tax knowledge. And for some positions, you may need a more advanced tax qualification like Enrolled Agent (EA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
How do I volunteer with VITA?
Volunteering your tax expertise with VITA starts with a simple application through the IRS website.* Most recruiting occurs between October and January each year; but if you miss the window, you can still apply. The IRS will hold your information on file until partner organizations accept volunteers for the next filing season.
The IRS will send your file to one of its VITA partnership organizations, which organize and operate the program's services to their local area.
Why join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program?
Even if you’re just starting your tax career, joining the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program brings you benefits that you’ll appreciate throughout your professional growth.
Training: The IRS provides its VITA volunteers with free training, helping you reinforce your tax service skills.
Hands-on practice: You’ll gain lots of experience performing essential tax services that translate into high-quality client offerings.
Resume building: Both the extra experience and community involvement make your resume stand out to potential employers.
Making a difference: Leveraging your skillsets to invest into the good of your community is gratifying professionally as well as personally.
More ways to grow as a tax professional
If you’re searching for how to grow your career in tax services, there’s no better way than by becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA).
Learn all about being an EA, how to pass the EA Exam, and the unlimited tax career potential you have by earning the credential in this free, downloadable EA Exam Guide!
Start your EA Exam prep with the information to succeed.
Download our FREE EA Exam Guide ebook.
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