Financial Stability Network


Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic - VITA Welcome Specialist

VITA Welcome Specialist

The Welcome Specialist role is perfect for volunteers who enjoy talking with others and are comfortable using a simple online system. No tax expertise necessary!

Catholic Charities manages an IRS-sponsored Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. The site provides tax return preparation (at no cost) for low- and moderate-income families from February 1 through April 15.  

Welcome Specialists are the first people clients of VITA meet. Volunteers communicate with clients by phone and email to help them upload their tax documents and other personal information into the simple, IRS cloud-based software. This role makes the process smooth for the tax preparers and helps clients feel comfortable using the online system. 

Volunteers will be responsible for:

  • Communicating with low to moderate-income clients via phone and email. 
  • Uploading taxpayers' documents into an IRS cloud-based software
  • Ensuring that the documents received via email are legible
  • Communicating with other VITA staff and volunteers when the task is completed 

Qualifications:

  • Must be at least 18 years old 
  • Able to use the IRS Cloud-based tax software (The Catholic Charities VITA site provides training sessions on this software)
  • Pass a simple online IRS ethics exam

Desired Skills, Experiences, and Characteristics:

  • Clear verbal communication skills
  • Friendly attitude
  • Comfortable troubleshooting minor technology issues 

Volunteer Benefits:

  • Make a positive difference in the economic lives of the taxpayers you work with
  • The taxpayers who take advantage of the Catholic Charities VITA are always appreciative of the time and energy of volunteers
  • Volunteer remotely 

Volunteer Support:

  • Volunteers are supported by Catholic Charities staff, senior volunteers in the program, and professionals from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law who provide training and administrate resources.  

Time Commitment:

  • Volunteers are required to attend a virtual training session.
  • The Virtual VITA site is open from February 1 – April 15. Volunteers are asked to commit 20 hours during this time frame.