We are accepting volunteers for the 2025 tax season. Sign up to receive information about volunteer opportunities, training and scheduling. View our training resources below, or contact us at [email protected].
United Way of Greater Cincinnati believes everyone in our region deserves economic well-being. Every year, more than 500 individuals volunteer at Free Tax Prep sites to provide tax preparation services to families and individuals striving to reach financial stability.
While tax season doesn’t begin until January, United Way’s formal training begins in early December.
No tax background? No problem. United Way provides training to help you build the knowledge and skills you need for your volunteer role.
Live and prerecorded online options are available, giving you flexibility as you prepare to become certified through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Training typically takes 8-12 hours. Sign up to get started and choose the training options that work for your schedule.
Once you’ve completed training, the next step is IRS certification.
If you haven’t already watched our Tech Video, start there to create the IRS training accounts you’ll need. Then visit VITA/TCE Central to complete your certification testing.
The test for tax preparers can take up to two hours. Once certified, you’ll be ready to put your training into practice at a Free Tax Prep site.
Choose from more than 30 tax sites across Greater Cincinnati and find shifts that fit your schedule. Opportunities are available on weeknights, weekdays and Saturdays during tax season.
Volunteers are asked to serve a minimum of 3-5 shifts. Most shifts are 4-6 hours long.
Whether you’re preparing a return or supporting another part of the process, you’ll be part of a team helping neighbors access the refunds and tax credits they are due.
Work alongside a team of volunteers helping neighbors prepare and file their tax returns at no cost. Every new volunteer adds an additional $25,000 in savings to our community.
No previous tax experience is necessary. United Way provides training, and new volunteers have opportunities to learn alongside experienced volunteers.
Qualified financial professionals, including CPAs, EAs and CFPs, may also be eligible to earn continuing education credits through select volunteer roles.
If you have more questions, join us for office hours:
Preparing and reviewing tax returns are central to Free Tax Prep, but there are several ways to volunteer.
Depending on your interests, training and the needs of a tax site, you may serve as a greeter or screener, tax preparer, reviewer, interpreter or translator or site coordinator.
No previous tax experience is required. United Way provides training for your role, and new volunteers can shadow experienced volunteers as they get started.
You’ll help individuals and families across Greater Cincinnati who have limited resources prepare and file their tax returns at no cost.
Free Tax Prep helps community members keep more of the money they’ve earned by avoiding preparation fees and claiming eligible refunds and tax credits. Each return prepared can save a community member about $275 in preparation fees.
Last year, Free Tax Prep filed almost 9,300 returns, helping local families save about $2.5 million in preparation fees and helping them claim more than $11.1 million in refunds.
You don’t need to be a tax professional to get involved. No previous experience is necessary, and United Way provides the training you need for your role.
Free Tax Prep is a team effort. New volunteers can shadow experienced volunteers, ask questions and build their skills throughout the season.
There are also roles beyond tax preparation, so people with different backgrounds, skills and interests can contribute.
Plan for about 8-12 hours of training and about 2 hours to complete certification testing. During tax season, most volunteers contribute about 15-20 hours of service.
Shifts are typically 4-6 hours and are available on weeknights, weekdays and Saturdays. With more than 30 tax sites across the region, there are many options for finding a schedule that works for you.
Volunteers are asked to serve a minimum of 3-5 shifts during the season.
Physical Free Tax Prep sites are located throughout Greater Cincinnati, including:
Sites are hosted at churches, libraries, schools, colleges, nonprofit organizations and other community locations.
Volunteers can also work virtually, reviewing and completing tax returns from home or work.
Virtual volunteers will be assigned to a team and can work at their convenience.
Virtual volunteers commit to preparing 2-4 returns per week for 3-5 weeks during the season.
Yes! CPAs, CFPs and other qualified tax professionals can earn continuing education credits through eligible volunteer roles, including Tax Preparer and Quality Reviewer.
Yes! Free Tax Prep can offer hands-on experience in tax preparation, client service and teamwork. You can also include relevant training, IRS certification and your volunteer responsibilities on your resume.
For students, people beginning their careers or those returning to the workforce, volunteering can be an opportunity to build skills while making a meaningful contribution to the community.
Both! Individuals can serve in several roles at community tax sites, including greeter or screener, tax preparer, reviewer, interpreter or translator, and site coordinator.
Workplace and corporate teams can also volunteer together. Depending on your organization’s interests, your team may be able to join a corporate tax team, sponsor and operate a community tax site or offer a tax site for colleagues. For group volunteer opportunities, contact Shaya Jackson at [email protected].
Click below to expand and watch recorded training sessions for volunteers.
Download this presentation’s accompanying slides.
A recording of this training will be posted on Jan. 20, 2026.
Download this presentation’s accompanying slides.
A recording of this training will be posted on Jan. 20, 2026.
Download this presentation’s accompanying slides.
A recording of this training will be posted on Jan. 29, 2026.
Download this presentation’s accompanying slides.
513-762-7100 | [email protected]
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