COMMITMENT: training and certification tests (open book), after which volunteers commit to two 4-hour shifts a month from February through April 14th, 2019. 

SHIFT OPTIONS (tentative): TBD. Email [email protected] for more information. 

View additional information, including next steps, below! 

SCOPE OF VOLUNTEER ROLE: Tax time can be stressful for those born in the US, imagine trying to navigate it as a resettled refugee! Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers ensure that newly arrived refugees are able to safely file their tax return to ensure everything is done correctly and everyone receives the credits they have earned. Our partners at Community Action Partnership of Utah will be hosting a training for our volunteers in December, date TBD, after which volunteers must take and pass two VITA certification tests. Volunteering as a tax preparer is a rare opportunity to help someone actually complete a task and check something off of their list, how often do we get to do that?!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Attending training hosted by Community Action Partnership of Utah in December 2018
  • Passing volunteer tax preparer certification exams  
  • Accurately prepare tax returns for refugees following tax code
  • Using resources provided and ask staff to solve problems that arise
  • Working with an interpreter to communicate information to non-native English speakers
  • Patiently serve populations that are new to the US tax filing system

REQUIREMENTS: All IRC volunteers must clear a HireRight background check, for which we ask for a donation of $45 to cover the cost. This is processed once you have been trained and certified, not before.

  • Knowledge of basic income tax preparation and meet one of the following criteria:
    • Experience filing your own tax return
    • Taken a tax law or income tax accounting course at a college level
    • Work in the accounting field
      • If interested but not able to meet one the citeria listed, please chat with volunteer coordinator about intake specialist position.
  • Ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients representing over 20 different countries
  • Computer proficient  
  • Enjoy working in a diverse ethnic and socio-economic environment
  • Ability to fulfill minimum commitment as outlined above

NEXT STEPS: 

  1. Sign up for the tax preparation training during the second week of December 2018 by emailing [email protected].
  2. If you have not already, sign up for a volunteer info session to learn more about the work of the IRC, the resettlement process and the volunteer application process. View dates and sign up here: http://signup.com/go/zWyQod 
  3. The volunteer coordinator will follow-up with the application and connect you with relevant training dates when they are set. 
  4. Attend required training and complete two certification tests, both of which are open book. 
  5. Complete an IRC background check, for which we do ask for a $45 donation to cover the cost. We will not formally request the donation until you have completed the IRS certification tests. 

This position reports to the financial literacy coordinator.