ALL VOLUNTEERS must take the online Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) Test. This provides a series of short lessons followed by questions. The lessons review the IRS standards regarding maintaining client confidentiality, treating clients respectfully, the chain-of-command for handling issues, etc.

Greeter-Client Interviewer

 Greet tax clients and give them the Interview Sheet, which asks for basic personal and tax filing information.  Help clients complete the Interview Form if necessary (most do it by themselves).  Copy their identity and tax documents.

Tax Preparer

 Review the client’s completed Interview Sheet and ask any pertinent questions you may have regarding the information.  Answer any questions they may have.  Prepare the client’s tax return using our online software and their tax documents.  Refer any questions you may have to the site coordinator or a senior preparer.  You will call over a Reviewer to review the return for accuracy.  Print out a copy of the completed return.  Client signs a form giving us permission to electronically file their return. In general, the VITA software will prepare the federal and MA state return simultaneously.  Client is given the copy of their return for their files.

Reviewer

 When the preparer has completed a return, you will be asked to review it for errors.  Once you have verified that the return has been completed properly with all legal deductions taken, you sign off on the Interview Sheet.  You move on to the next completed return.

The IRS is requesting that all tax preparers be certified at the Basic AND Intermediate Levels. Exceptions may be made for those who are only able to complete the Basic Level due to unforeseen circumstance, but this limits the types of tax returns you may do.

Interviewers must be certified up to the Intermediate Level, no exceptions allowed.

For more information or questions, please contact:

Gail Fortes Community Teamwork, Inc.-VITA Program 155 Merrimack St., 3rd floor Lowell, MA 01852 978-654-5676 gfortes@comteam.org