Earned Income Tax Credit

Tempe Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
and Asset Development Initiative

Earn It! Claim It! Save It!

Money In Hand

Become a Volunteer Tax Preparer

Volunteer Tax Preparer Job Description

Pass IRS tax law course and tax software training (Taxwise)
Prepare basic 1040 tax returns and related schedules
Answer tax related questions
Prepare a correct and accurate return based on information provided by taxpayer
Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information
Provide a copy of the completed return to the taxpayer

Free IRS Tax Law Training

New Volunteers to Our Initiative

1) Non- ASU Accounting Volunteers

The IRS Tax Law course for the general public will be offered at Tempe Schools Credit Union, 2800 South Mill Avenue on five (5) evenings – November 15 & 29 plus December 6, 11 and 13 from 6-9PM. This Tax Law course should take about 30 hours to complete and includes 15 hours of coursework that you can do at home plus 15 hours of classroom instruction. All Tax Preparers are asked to commit to 20 hours (5 Saturdays) of volunteer service during tax season. In January, we ask that you sign up to attend one General Orientation and one Taxwise software refresher class.

2) ASU Accounting Students

We are offering a course that will be a combination of online and classroom coursework. This course will be offered on campus on Saturdays, January 5 and 12, 2008 from 12 - 2 PM. All Tax Preparers are asked to commit to 20 hours (5 Saturdays) of volunteer service during tax season. In January, we ask that you sign up to attend one General Orientation and one Taxwise software refresher class.

3) CPAs and Experienced Tax Preparers

For those volunteers who are CPAs or have years of tax preparation experience, we are comfortable with you doing your certification online at http://www.irs.gov/app/vita/index.jsp The online certification is expected to be updated for tax year 2007 by the beginning of November.

We are hoping that the CPAs/experienced preparers will certify at the Advanced level. To meet the VITA requirements you need to also pass the Basic and Intermediate Tests and bring your test results with you to orientation as we must keep retain the information. If the online course & certification process does not work for you, you are welcome to attend any of the tax law training opportunities offered to you when you complete your volunteer application.

Returning Volunteers

New this year – Margaret Hunnicutt will offer a more advanced Tax Law course and update for returning volunteers. This course is six (6) hours in length and will be offered on Tuesdays, January 8 and 15 from 6:00 – 9:00PM at Tempe Schools Credit Union, 2800 South Mill Avenue in Tempe. Since there are new program components this year, we ask that all volunteers sign up for one (1) Orientation in January.

What training do I get after I successfully complete the Tax Law course?

Orientation

All volunteers are required to attend orientation. It will be offered on Saturday, January 19 from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM with lunch provided. The Saturday orientation provides an overview of our Initiative, detailed instructions on site procedures and an overview of the savings and homeownership opportunities available to eligible taxpayers by partners to our Initiative. If you are unable to attend the Saturday orientation, we will offer an abbreviated orientation on Wednesday, January 16 from 6-7PM.

Both Volunteer Orientations are offered at Tempe Schools Credit Union, 2800 South Mill Avenue in Tempe.

Taxwise Training

New Tax Preparers to Our Initiative - Non ASU Student Volunteers

Taxwise is the IRS software used at our tax site. New volunteers will receive some Taxwise instruction as part of their Tax Law course. Our experience indicates that all NEW volunteers benefit from a two hour Taxwise refresher just before tax season starts. Please sign up for one of the Taxwise classes when completing your volunteer application. These classes are offered on Wednesday, January 16 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM and Saturday, January 19 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM.

New Tax Preparers to Our Initiative - ASU Student Volunteers
Taxwise for new ASU Volunteers will be held on Fridays, January 25 and February 8, 2008 from 1 - 4 PM at Tempe Schools Credit Union. Please sign up for this class when completing Volunteer Application.

Returning Tax Preparers

On Tuesday, January 22, 2008, Margaret Hunnicutt will offer an advanced Taxwise class from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for returning volunteers. Please sign up for this class when completing your volunteer application.

All Taxwise training is offered at Tempe Schools Credit Union, 2800 South Mill Avenue in Tempe.

When will I begin to volunteer

You may choose your Saturdays from January 26th through April 12, 2007. Our site will be closed March 15, 2007 for Spring Break. We are asking for a minimum time commitment of 20 hours during tax season.

Whom should I contact if I have more questions?

Diane Bennett ddb1125@aol.com

Volunteer Application