NEW USERS REGISTER HERE!

During the 2010 tax season, 250 Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Volunteers helped return more than $8.7 million to families.  That's more than $30,000 per volunteer! 

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.  The program was launched in October 2008 through a partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the City of Dallas under Mayor Tom Leppert's Financial Stability Initiative. 

Since the program's inception, volunteers have prepared over 10,000 returns and put more than $16 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 and 2010 tax seasons. With your help, families in the City of Dallas were able to receive free tax preparation while taking advantage of eligible tax credits.  The goal for the 2011 tax season is to serve 10,000 families.

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!   There are (4) exciting volunteer opportunities, which are listed below.  

• Trainer:  Provide tax-law and tax-software training to Tax Preparers and Intake Specialists.  Click Here for complete volunteer position description!

• 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 ensuring 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!

LOCATIONS

The volunteer locations are all within Dallas city limits.  Actual locations will be announced in late September.  The locations will primarily be located in easy accessible, trusted community locations including, but not limited to, governmental facilities, local churches, non-profits and health facilities.  The sites will be open during convenient day, evening and Saturday hours. 

TIME REQUIREMENT

From January through April, volunteers must commit to at least one three-hour shift per week or a total of 25 hours.  All of the sites are located within Dallas City limits.  The sites will be open during the day, evenings and Saturdays. 

TRAINING INFORMATION

Free orientation and training will be provided by United Way and the IRS beginning in December.  All training materials, including certification questions, will be provided in advance at no cost to volunteers.  Schedules and locations will be announced in November. 

Training is optional; however certification is required each year for Tax Preparers.  Training options include:

• In Class Training:  Volunteers may take up to 16 hours of free, optional training in a classroom setting.  Training is optional.  New volunteers with little or no tax experience are encouraged to attend.  Returning volunteers may take a tax refresher course.  Each section is 4 hours long and will include a minimum of 4 lessons each.  Volunteers may decide which sections/lessons to attend.

• Online Training:  Available at http://www.irs.gov/app/vita/.  Step-by-step instructions will be provided with all training materials. 

• Self-Study:  Training materials, including certification questions will be provided free of charge.

• Intake Specialists and Translators must attend a one-hour orientation. 

CERTIFICATION

Certification ensures that Tax Preparers are qualified to assist others with tax return preparation.  Volunteers must certify each year.  The IRS certifies volunteers by asking them to answer questions using reference materials and complete sample tax returns. The process includes passing an un-timed, open-book, online test.  The questions to the online tests are provided in advance. 

The IRS guarantees your ability to prepare returns covered by the online certification tests.  Certified volunteers are not held liable for errors on the return. Volunteers cannot assist with any tax returns that are beyond their certification level. 

Tax Preparers are required to certify each year.  Intake Specialists and Translators are not required to certify.  All volunteers regardless of the position are required to sign a Volunteer Agreement.

NEXT STEPS:

• Click on the Sign In button (top of page) and create an account if you haven’t already done so.  Please be sure to answer all of the required questions.  If you already have an account, please log in and update your account if necessary.  Updates may include any changes to your contact information, availability, etc. 

• In November, you will receive an email announcing the training schedules and dates, including information about how to obtain the free training materials.  This information will also be posted on the web site. 

• Sign up to attend optional training beginning in December.  If you are not attending an in-class training session, you will be given instructions for retrieving free training materials.  All training materials will include certification questions. 

• Complete the online certification (Tax Preparers only).  Tax Preparers do not have to obtain training, although it is recommended for new volunteers without a tax background.  However, all Tax Preparers must certify each year, regardless of their tax background.  The questions to the online tests will be provided in advance. 

• All certifications must be emailed to volunteer@unitedwaydallas.org or faxed to 214.922.9683.  You will also need to bring (1) signed copy to each site that you volunteer.

• Once our team has received your certification via email, you will receive a message indicating your assigned site.  Site assignments are made based on the information that you provide during registration.  This includes your availability and distance willing to travel.  If you wish to make changes to your account, please sign in and make any necessary changes.

• After you have been assigned to a site, login to your account and sign up to volunteer on the days you wish to volunteer! 

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 Gala Trigg at gtrigg@unitedwaydallas.org or (214) 978-0081.