NEW USERS REGISTER HERE!

IF YOU HAVE HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO A SITE, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CERTIFICATE OR VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT TO VOLUNTEER@UNITEDWAYDALLAS.ORG.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Earn It! Keep It! Save It! program empowers low- to moderate-income families to become financially stronger, more self sufficient and successful.

In its inaugural year, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! volunteers prepared nearly 4,700 returns and put more than $8 million back into the pockets of hard-working Dallas families by filing returns and helping them take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are located in low- to moderate-income communities in the City of Dallas.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! sponsors would like to thank all of the volunteers that supported the VITA program during the 2009 tax season. With your help, families in the City of Dallas were able to receive free tax preparation while taking advantage of eligible tax credits.

LIVE UNITED TODAY!

Volunteer to get the hardworking families the tax refunds they deserve. A few hours a week will make a big difference for many, including yourself! See volunteer positions below:

Tax Preparer:

Assist working families to e-file their returns. You will accurately apply tax law and identify any tax benefits for which the taxpayer qualifies. Click Here for complete volunteer position description!

Intake Specialist:

Provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere while checking that families have brought all the necessary personal finance information to the VITA site.  Click Here for complete volunteer position description!

Translator:

As a Translator, you will provide complimentary interpreter services at the VITA sites. Translators are asked to be fluent in speaking both Spanish and English, as well as both friendly and dependable. Translators are also needed in additional languages. Click Here for complete volunteer position description!

Site Coordinator:

Maintain effective operations at the VITA site. Your efforts will keep the site organized and efficient, ensuring that the VITA site and volunteers are upholding the proper standards of service and quality. Experienced VITA Volunteers encouraged for this position. Responsibilities vary by site. Training and step-by-step support will be provided. Click Here for complete volunteer position description!

TIME REQUIREMENT & TRAINING INFORMATION

From January through April, volunteers must commit to at least one three-hour shift per week or a total of 25 hours. Free orientation and training will be provided by United Way and the IRS beginning in December. Volunteers may take up to 16 hours of free, optional training in a classroom setting. The last classroom training will be held on Saturday, February 27th.  Online training is also available at http://www.irs.gov/app/vita/.  Intake Specialists and Translators may take an one-hour orientation. 

Training locations are listed below:

• (UW) = United Way Dallas, 1800 N Lamar, Dallas TX 75202      
• (EC) = El Centro Community College, 801 Main St., Dallas TX 75202 
• (E) = Eastfield Community College, 3737 Motley Dr. Mesquite TX 75150
• (UL) = Urban League, 4315 S Lancaster, Dallas TX 75216 

Sign-up below for your training session!  Click here to learn more on Volunteer Tax Preparer Training Instructions.  Free training materials are available for all volunteers.  Volunteers may pick up the training materials at any of the training locations during the scheduled training times or at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.  Please refer to the training schedule below for a list of locations and times.  Additional training and orientation classes have been added!  Free lab time has also been added for tax practice and certification for Tax Preparers.  

What is certification?

Certification ensures that you are qualified to assist others in preparing their tax returns.  The IRS certifies volunteers by asking them to answer questions using reference materials and to fill out a sample tax return. It is an open-book test for basic, intermediate and advance levels.  The questions to the tests are provided by United Way during training.  However, if you'd prefer to complete the online training or simply take the test, please feel free to pick up the training materials which also includes the test questions.  For information about where to pick up these materials, please refer to the training section above. 

Once you are certified, the IRS guarantees your ability to prepare returns covered by the test you took so that, should there be any error in the return, you are not responsible for it. However, you cannot prepare returns that are beyond your training. For instance, VITA certification does not cover businesses and complex 1099 forms.

When you receive your certification on-line using Link & Learn, download the certification and e-mail a copy to volunteer@unitedwaydallas.org as well as bring a signed copy to your placement site. Placement at a VITA Site is not made until United Way has on file a copy of your IRS certification.

FOR MORE INFORMATION  

The Earn It! Keep It! Save It! section of the United Way Web site is regularly updated with the latest information about the program, services and locations. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact an Earn It! Keep It! Save It! team member: 

• Cecilia Garcia at cgarcia@unitedwaydallas.org or 214.978.0081
• Brandalyn Rodgers at brodgers@unitedwaydallas.org or 214.978.0081
• Gala Trigg at gtrigg@unitedwaydallas.org or 214.978.0081