VITA Tax Preparer
VITA Tax Return Preparer
Catholic Charities through its Financial Stability Network (FSN) manages an IRS-
sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. The site provides tax return preparation (at no cost) for low- and moderate-income families on Saturdays from February 1 through April 15. Operating hours for the Catholic Charities VITA site at 924 G Street, NW, Washington, DC are 8:00am to 5:00pm. The VITA experience is regarded as an important entry point to the suite of financial literacy services offered by the FSN.
Overall goal/mission:
• Tax preparers provide high-quality tax assistance to individuals and families in need
• Maximize tax benefits (filing status, child credits, childcare credits, earned income
credits, etc.) to which the taxpayer is entitled under the law.
• Enable taxpayers to avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous “storefront”
preparers who charge high fees and structure refund anticipation loans that further
siphon off the benefit of the refunds due to the taxpayer.
• Tax Preparers are supported by volunteer Welcome Specialists who assist
taxpayers with preparation for the meeting with the tax preparer and by volunteer
Quality Reviewers (all seasoned tax professionals) who review each return before it
is filed.
Tax Return Preparers will be responsible for:
• Ensuring taxpayers have all necessary forms and that all data is entered accurately.
• Communicating with taxpayers when there is any missing information.
• Preparing federal and state tax returns using IRS cloud-based software.
• Communicating with a VITA Quality Reviewer if there are any questions about the
return.
• Reviewing tax returns and documents for accuracy with the taxpayer after it has
been reviewed and before it is electronically submitted to the IRS.
Qualifications:
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Tax return preparers must attend training (offered on Saturdays in January) and
need to pass online IRS tax and ethics tests.
• Ability to communicate effectively with low-income individuals.
• Ability to use tax software provided by the IRS. (Volunteers don't need to be tax
experts! If you are comfortable using TurboTax, you will be able to serve as a
volunteer.)
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and speaking.
• Attention to detail.
• Provide confidential and professional support to the low- and moderate-income
taxpayers.
Volunteer Benefits:
• Make a positive difference in the economic lives of the taxpayers they serve.
• The taxpayers who participate in the Catholic Charities VITA program are always
appreciative of the time and energy of volunteers.
Support:
• Volunteers are supported by prior Catholic Charities staff, senior volunteers in the
program, and professionals who provide training and administrative resources.
Time Commitment:
• Tax return preparers must attend in-person training sessions (12 hours in total) in
January and take and pass IRS exams.
• The Catholic Charities VITA site is open on Saturdays from February 1 – April 15.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of six four-hour time slots (3 full-day
or 6 half-day Saturday sessions).
Location: Volunteers can serve at one of three locations:
• Catholic Charities Hickey Center - 924 G St., NW. Washington, DC.
• Catholic Charities Montgomery County Center - 12247 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring,
MD. (For Spanish speaking customers)
• Gaithersburg Spanish Catholic Center - 201 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. (For
Spanish speaking customers)
