Volunteering for VITA

If you would like to become a volunteer for VITA, please fill out this interest form:

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Important Reminder: Come dressed in business attire and bring your personal laptop to all VITA dates (excluding training)

1. Complete Interest Form

Fill out the form above

*Training/volunteer meeting information will be sent to the emails generated from the form submissions

2. Attend the in-person training sessions

In-person training sessions are in Lillis 245 on these dates:

  • Saturday, January 25, 2025

  • Saturday, February 01, 2025

3. Complete all necessary certifications

*Volunteers who are not certified with the advanced exam are not allowed to answer any tax-law related questions.

To be a Greeter, Client Facilitator, or Printer volunteers need to pass:

  • Volunteer Standards of Conduct Exam

  • Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam

To be an Advanced Tax Preparer and Quality Reviewer volunteers need to pass:

  • Volunteer Standards of Conduct Exam

  • Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam

  • Advanced Exam

Visit VITA/TCE Central to complete these tests.

4. Set up TaxSlayer

Volunteers will prepare and e-file the tax returns using TaxSlayer. Click here to start practicing. Check out this instruction about the Practice Lab. A walkthrough of how to use TaxSlayer can be found here.

*You can get your login information at the in-person training sessions

5. Submit all required files/documents

  • Certification of Volunteer of Standards Conduct Exam | Required for all

  • Form 13615 Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs | Required for all

  • Certification of Intake/Interview and Quality Review Exam | Required for all (except greeters)

  • Certification of Advanced Exam | Preparer’s/Reviewer’s ONLY

*All files need to be received before being scheduled.

  1. Send a PDF copy of: your certifications, the completed (and signed) Form 13615, and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to mpowell8@uoregon.edu

  2. On the “Subject” line, type “VITA Certificates”.  

VOLUNTEER ROLES

Greeters:

The Greeters position requires individuals to check in clients and hand out intake forms prior to the tax preparation process. Greeters are expected to treat clients with respect and offer positive customer service. They are expected to cross-check the out-of-scope checklist for clients who cannot be serviced.

Greeters are not expected to be able to answer all tax-related questions and must be responsible for reaching out to another volunteer about more complex questions. Greeters are expected to dress in business casual attire and remain until 2:45 when check-in closes. Greeters, please bring your personal laptops to facilitate check-in.

Client Facilitators (CFs):

The Client Facilitator’s position communicates with clients after they have received and filled out their intake forms. CFs assign clients to specific volunteers and serve as an intermediary between preparers, reviewers, and printers. The CFs are in charge of keeping track of the availability of fellow volunteers using google spreadsheets. CFs are expected to maintain organization and communicate effectively with clients when the site becomes busy and wait times lengthen. 

Client Facilitators do not need to be certified for the advanced exam but are required to attain the Intake/Interview and Quality Review Certification. Client Facilitators are expected to dress in business casual attire and remain until 4:00 pm when VITA concludes for the day. 

Preparer:

The Tax Preparer’s position will use TaxSlayer software to prepare the 1040s of each client. Tax preparers are expected to utilize IRS handbooks and communicate with clients on their tax details. 

Tax preparers are required to be certified in all 3 exams. Tax preparers are expected to dress in business casual attire and remain until 4:00 pm when VITA concludes for the day.

Reviewer:

The Reviewer’s position will confirm the details of the 1040s completed by the Tax Preparer. Reviewers are expected to pay attention to detail and have previous experience as a Tax Preparers. 

Reviewers are required to be certified in all 3 exams. Reviewers are expected to dress in business casual attire and remain until 4:00 pm when VITA concludes for the day. All Reviewers please bring your personal laptops to facilitate the review process.

Printer:

Printer’s serve as the final step in the process. Printer’s are responsible for printing a completed and reviewed 1040 to deliver to the client. Printer’s are expected to submit an electronic copy of the 1040 to the IRS. Any documents left over with clients’ personal information are expected to be shredded. 

The printer does not need to be certified for the advanced exam but is required to attain the Intake/Interview and Quality Review Certification. Printers are expected to dress in business casual attire and remain until 4:00 pm when VITA concludes for the day.