Volunteer FAQ
Below you will find answers to many of our volunteers’ Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find an answer to your question here, please contact DC EITC Campaign Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Brazner at volunteer@dceitc.org or call 202-419-1440 x111.
DC EITC Campaign Information
Logistics
Skills and Qualifications
Training and Certification
I'm Ready, How do I sign up?
Complete the volunteer application form. It will take you 15-20 minutes. Please be prepared to tell us what days you are available to volunteer and where you would like to be placed.
Additional Questions
For additional questions, please contact Caitlin Brazner, the DC EITC Campaign’s Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@dceitc.org or 202-419-1440.
DC EITC Campaign Information
Who manages the DC EITC Campaign?
Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) and Community Tax Aid, Inc. (CTA) are the Campaign’s lead partners and house all the Campaign’s full-time staff. The DC EITC Campaign has over 40 partners organizations supporting various aspects of the Campaign’s tax preparation and other asset-building efforts.
Both CAAB and CTA are non-profit organizations based in Washington DC (501 C3). Return to top
What are the Campaign’s goals?
1) To increase uptake of federal and DC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax benefits that help low-income families and individuals.
2) Provide and expand access to high quality free tax preparation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
3) To connect low-income taxpayers with programs and services to improve their financial stability.
4) Help low-income taxpayers meet their tax filing obligations.
Click Here for more information about the Campaign’s goals.
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How is the Campaign funded?
The DC EITC Campaign receives financial support from the Federal and District governments, several private foundations, and individual donors. See our Financial Supporters page for details.
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Who are the Campaign’s clients?
DC EITC Campaign tax sites serve DC-area individual taxpayers with incomes less than $25,000 and families with incomes less than $45,000. DC EITC Campaign clients come from all over the city and DC-metro area, speak a wide variety of languages, and have very diverse backgrounds.
In 2009, the average client’s adjusted gross income was $17,038, and 35.5% of filers claimed the EITC.
The EITC and other tax credits help low-income residents afford winter coats, pay utility bills, and possibly save for the future, but without emergency savings, many of these individuals are only one incident away from an economic crisis.
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What is the Campaign doing to promote long-term financial stability for its clients?
In addition to training volunteers to prepare and file tax returns, the Campaign trains volunteer Savings Promoters to help clients access other free financial resources, like CAAB’s Money Management 101 classes and credit counseling services. Savings Promoters may also provide information on low-cost checking accounts and savings accounts, that can be opened on-site to facilitate direct deposit of refunds.
Other volunteers, known as SNAP Outreach Specialists, provide information about, and access to, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP- formerly the Food Stamps Program), a program that can dramatically increase clients' financial security. Click Here for more information about SNAP.
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Logistics
How much time will I have to commit?
New Tax Preparer volunteers must commit to one 3-4 hour shift per week during the 11-week tax season (January 28 through April 17). Savings Promoters are also encouraged to commit to one shift per week, but may volunteer a minimum of one shift every other week. Most shifts are during the day on Saturdays and in the evening on weekdays.
New Tax Preparer volunteers are also required to attend two training sessions in January for a total of 8 hours and take a certification test. Savings Promoter volunteers will attend a separate 8 hour training session.
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Where will I be volunteering?
Tax sites are located throughout the DC metropolitan area (including a few sites in Maryland and Northern Virginia). You can select your preferred volunteer shift after completing your volunteer registration, pending availability.
We will do our best to ensure that everyone who registers for a site is able to volunteer at their selected tax site. However, if, close to the start of tax season, our sites are not evenly staffed, we may ask some volunteers to switch to another one of their preferred sites.
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Is transportation provided?
Transportation is provided from the Anacostia Metro station to our United Planning Organization and Southeast Community Credit Center tax sites, which are further from downtown DC. Transportation will not be provided at other tax sites, though all other DC sites are Metro-accessible.
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Some of the sites are located in neighborhoods that I am not familiar with. How do I learn more about these neighborhoods and tax sites?
Volunteering in a neighborhood that you have never visited is a great way to get to know a new community and a new part of the city.
Most of the tax sites will hold orientations before the official start of the tax season to help volunteers familiarize themselves with the site, partner organization, and neighborhood.
Tax site staff will also arrange transportation from the Metro to our United Planning Organization and Southeast Community Credit Center tax sites, which are further from downtown DC.
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What do I need to do before tax season?
See our Volunteer Training page for specific instructions, including training requirements, based on volunteer position and years of experience.
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What if I can’t make it to the site at the time my shift begins?
For Savings Promoters/Intake Specialists getting to sites on time is very important as the first job at the site is to intake the clients. If you aren’t able to be there at the beginning of the shift, you are still welcome to volunteer. You will likely help with whatever intake is left, then assist at the site in other ways, including giving presentations to waiting clients and compiling exit paperwork. Please let your Site Coordinator know what time to expect you.
For Tax Preparers, the more time you can spend at the site, the more returns you can prepare. You are encouraged to get to the site as close to the beginning of the shiftas possible. If work or other obligations force you to arrive later, you are still welcome to volunteer. Please let your Site Coordinator know what time to expect you.
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What if I need an accomodation for my disability?
Contact please contact DC EITC Campaign Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Brazner at volunteer@dceitc.org or call 202-419-1440 x111 at your earliest convenience. We will work with our hosts, partners and volunteers to try and meet your needs.
Skills and Qualifications
What kinds of skills do I need to be a tax volunteer? Do I need a financial background?
Anyone can volunteer who is willing to commit to learning, filling a necessary role at a tax site and meeting IRS established Volunteer Standards of Conduct. .If you have prepared your own tax return, prepared returns for others, or have worked extensively with numbers, you should be able to qualify as a tax preparer. We use a computer based software program to complete the tax returns, so you should be familiar with using a PC. We will provide training on the TaxWise software package.
All preparers will be trained by the Campaign and certified by the IRS. Knowledge of languages in addition to English, including American Sign Language, are skills as valued as accountancy by the Campaign, if you speak or sign a second language please volunteer.
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What if I'm not interested in preparing taxes, is there another way I can be a part of the DC EITC Campaign?
Absolutely! We need people to fill other positions as well, including:
- Savings Promoter / Intake Specialists: All of our DC-based sites will need Savings Promoters to provide information about financial resources and services to tax clients. Some financial knowledge is helpful, but not necessary, and good communication skills are essential.
- Interpreters: In addition to tax preparers, we need people proficient in Spanish, Amharic, Mandarin, American Sign Language, Cantonese, and Fukien to provide interpretation. You need to be fluent one of these languages, but do not need a special knowledge of financial terms.
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Training and Certification
Are there requirements to become a volunteer tax preparer?
New and 2nd year volunteers must attend training in January, and all tax preparers must pass the IRS certification test (either online or at a Certification Class).
New and 2nd year volunteers MUST certify in person- exam proctors will be available during the all in-person certification sessions to answer questions.
Please Note: We strongly recommend that volunteers take the IRS certification exam within one week of completing training.
Savings Promoter volunteers will need to attend a separate training session in January.
See our Volunteer Training page for specific training requirements.
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I already know how to do taxes. Do I need to come to training?
Yes. Our training focuses specifically on our clients’ needs, and will introduce you to the TaxWise software used to prepare returns as well as our tax site practices. Previous tax preparation experience is extremely helpful, but will generally not fully prepare you to volunteer at one of our sites.
If you have extensive experience working with low-income clients, or have volunteered at another VITA program and do not want to attend first-year training contact DC EITC Campaign Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Brazner at volunteer@dceitc.org or call 202-419-1440 x111. We will work with you to identify an appropriate training and certification path.
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How much training will I have to go through?
After completing the training outlined below, all tax preparation volunteers must take an IRS certification test (1-4 hours for Basic level exam).
New volunteer tax preparers are required to attend one 4-hour session covering Basic Tax Law, as well as one 4-hour Basic TaxWise computer training on the use of TaxWise software.
2nd year volunteers take Basic Tax Law, Intermediate Topics and TaxWise computer training and an IRS Certification class. Alternatively, returning volunteers with one year of experience may take the first-year training again.
Volunteers with 2+ years of experience take a 4-hour Refresher Topics lecture OR the IRS online Returning Preparing Training and certify online. These experienced volunteers are encouraged to take Advanced Topics & IRS Certification And Quality Reviewer Training. Alternatively, volunteers with two or more years of experience may take the first-year training or second year training.
Click Here for a full description of training requirements.
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How do I sign up for training and when will it take place?
Tax training registration is through the Campaign’s volunteer website (http://dceitc.volunteerhub.com), and trainings will occur throughout January.
Please see our Volunteer Training page for specific training requirements and a calendar of available trainings.
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How will I get certified by the IRS?
Volunteers are eligible to be certified after they have completed the prerequisite training listed above. All volunteers must take the certification test during a Certification Class, Refresher Class or through the IRS Link & Learn website. Certifying in-person is required for new and 2nd year volunteers.
Additionally, all Tax Preparers should plan to certify before January 26th, two days before the Campaign’s tax sites open. Tax Preparers will not be allowed to volunteer until their certification test is completed and Volunteer Agreement has been given to their Site Coordinator.
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How does in-person certification work?
When you take your test during a certification session or training class, a proctor will be available to answer questions and to help you navigate the software used to take the test. You will complete an IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct training and start the Basic Certification Test. This process takes between 1 and 4 hours, depending on the volunteer. You may continue on to Intermediate and/or Advanced Certification Tests, which build on the Basic test and take an additional 1 to 3 hours (combined), depending on the volunteer. If you do not complete the test in class you may complete it at home or attend another class.
Make sure to download the certification instructions for further information.
You will need to score 80% or higher on a particular test to be certified at that level. When you pass, you will print your Volunteer Agreement with your completed certification score.
Finally, do not forget to submit your signed Volunteer Agreement, with your score included, to your Site Coordinator at your first volunteer shift.
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How does online certification work?
We require first and second year volunteers to take the test in the IRS Certification Class. Online certification is available for returning volunteers through Link & Learn. You will have two chances to pass your test, so be sure to take your time and answer questions carefully. The Basic Certification Test takes between 1 and 4 hours, depending on the volunteer. You can take the test in one sitting, or save your answers and come back at a later time.
You will need to score 80% or higher on a particular test to be certified at that level.
Finally, do not forget to submit your signed Volunteer Agreement, with your score included, to your site manager at your first volunteer shift.
See our Detailed Certification Instructions for more information.
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What if I fail the online certification test?
Contact Caitlin Brazner (volunteer@dceitc.org) for other options.
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What should I bring to my training classes?
We will provide training materials, but you should bring notepaper, a pen or pencil, and a calculator.
For all-day sessions, you will need to bring a lunch. For the Certification Session, you will need to bring the IRS materials you received at your training session.
Please note that some of our training classes may take place in secure buildings with controlled access; please be sure to bring a picture ID with you so you can be admitted to the class.
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