ABOUT FREE TAX VOLUNTEERING
United Way of Greater Cincinnati believes all families in our region deserve economic well-being. Every year more than 400 individuals give their time to volunteer at Free Tax Prep sites to provide tax preparation services to families and individuals striving to reach that objective. Free Tax Prep volunteers directly support individuals and families in that effort.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?
The 2024 tax season commences at the end of January, and we need your help! Not a tax expert? No problem! There are volunteer roles for all interests, plus United Way of Greater Cincinnati provides training and ongoing support.
To be a great volunteer, you just need to be:
- Personable and friendly
- Comfortable working with a diverse group of clients
- Willing to ask questions
- Willing to learn and use tax preparation and tax facilitation software
- Eager to learn new skills
- Willing to adhere to high ethical standards
WHAT TYPE OF VOLUNTEER ARE YOU?
We have opportunities for everyone regardless of your tax preparation background. Whether you're interested in customer service like greeting or sending appointment reminders or enjoy doing taxes and giving families sound and certified tax advice, there is something for everyone. Just select one of the boxes below. You will receive information regarding what's available, what training is involved and more.
Not sure which opportunity is the best fit for your skills/interests or what is entailed in each role? Find detailed descriptions below.
This is your chance to make a long-lasting impact in a person or family's life.
Greeters & Site Support
These non-tax-preparation roles can be client-facing like being a greeter or sending appointment reminders, or even just helping behind-the-scenes.
Tax Preparers & Experts
Enjoy working with people and reviewing or preparing tax documents and returns? This could be your perfect fit.
VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS
Expand each of the below to see detailed descriptions of available positions:
SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS
- Greeters ensure taxpayers feel welcome, provide information about the general tax preparation process for the site, and share general site information.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct.
- Other VITA volunteers support the other volunteers, taxpayers, and work of the FTP sites; other volunteers may include translators/interpreters, tech support personnel, or individuals providing administrative support (appointment scheduling and confirmation, mailing/emailing taxpayers, etc.).
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct.
Optional IRS Certification: Intake/Interview & Quality Review, especially for those scheduling or confirming appointments, so those individuals know the required documents required for tax preparation.
PREPARATION VOLUNTEERS
- Greeters & Screeners/Intake Screeners ensure taxpayers feel welcome and can verify required documents taxpayers need to receive services; share general site information and verify form 13446 is completed completely and correctly.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct and Intake/Interview & Quality Review. Optional IRS Certification: Basic tax law. - Tax Preparers + Quality Reviewers ensure taxpayers feel welcome, provide basic and advanced tax preparation and participate in the quality review process to check returns prepared by other volunteer preparers. Free Tax Prep sites are always in need of additional individuals willing to fulfill these roles.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview & Quality Review, and Advanced tax law.
Optional IRS Certification: Basic tax law. - Tax Preparer Specialists ensure taxpayers feel welcome, provide basic and advanced tax preparation services, including those with specialized returns and participate in the quality review check process of returns prepared by other volunteer preparers.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview and Quality Review, Advanced, and one or more specialized tax law certifications such as Military, International, HAS, Circular 230, Foreign Students, or Puerto Rico 1 or 2. Specializing in one or more fields of tax law permits for additional Continuing Education (CE) hours.
VOLUNTEER MANAGERS
- Site Coordinators are responsible for the site facility, including, but not limited to: security of documents and technology; managing volunteer schedules, communicating site needs to United Way, validating returns processed by site volunteers, troubleshooting site issues or taxpayer concerns while adhering to all required mandates as outlined in the IRS Site Coordinator Handbook.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview & Quality Review, Site Coordinator Test, and Advanced tax law. Site Coordinators who do not have tax law knowledge need to appoint a co-coordinator with tax law knowledge. Ideally, Site Coordinators should have 4 to 5 years of experience with FTP services, including tax preparation. - Facilitated Self-Assistance (FSA) coaches are responsible for the site and all required mandates as outlined in the Site Coordinator Handbook; FSA coaches must possess the knowledge to answer tax preparation questions.
IRS Certification: Standards of Conduct; Intake/Interview & Quality Review; Site Coordinator Test; and Advanced tax law.
For more information, contact:
Matthew Long
Program Manager, Free Tax Prep
513-762-7100 | freetax@uwgc.org
Matt has been working in community and public service organizations for almost 13 years. His objective at UWGC is to enhance and grow the Free Tax Prep program so taxpayers are empowered and more families can thrive.
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