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Every year in Fairburn and surrounding communities on the Southside of metro Atlanta, hardworking, low-to-moderate income families lack access to affordable trained tax preparers and fail to claim important tax credits. In partnership with the IRS, Phi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will provide free tax preparation and electronic filing services by IRS-trained and certified volunteers. For more than 50 years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has been providing free tax preparation services and asset building resources to working families in communities across the nation.

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Join VITA and make a difference in the lives of families in your community by preparing tax returns for individual taxpayers. VITA volunteers make a direct impact on the financial well-being of thousands of households in their communities by helping them maximize their refunds and possibly receive one of the largest checks of the year---their tax refunds. Phi Tau Omega's VITA site will be open to offer assistance monthly on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, as well as the 3rd Thursdays beginning February 2024-April 2024.  You can volunteer at your convenience according to your availability.

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We are looking to fill the following positions:

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Greeter/Screener – You greet everyone visiting the site to create a pleasant atmosphere. You screen taxpayers to determine the type of assistance they need and confirm they have the necessary documents to complete their tax returns. Tax law certification is not required for this position.

 

Tax Preparer – You complete and successfully certify in tax law training, including the use of electronic filing software, to provide free tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers.

 

Interpreter – You provide free language interpreter services to customers who are not fluent in English. Basic tax knowledge is helpful, but it is not required for this position.

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Greeter/Screener

Requires completion of the IRS online volunteer certification process

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Tax Preparer

Requires completion of the IRS online volunteer certification process and completion of the IRS volunteer tax preparer certification training.

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Interpreter

Requires completion of the IRS online volunteer certification process

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For those tax preparer volunteers who DID NOT attend any virtual/in person training or you attended and would like a refresher, check back here soon to sign up for virtual or in person training.

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Greetings VITA Volunteers,

 

Please read  this message in its entirety because it outlines important information for ALL Phi Tau Omega VITA site volunteers. 

 

The next step to becoming a volunteer is to go online at your own pace to complete any required certification tests. 

 

The Link & Learn Taxes (LLT) testing certification site is now available. The site can be accessed directly at Link and Learn Certification site (VITA/TCE Central). Volunteers also can access the site through the main LLT learning site, Link & Learn Taxes, via the VITA/TCE Central link and through the test link shown at the end of each course.

 

NOTE: Users of the new testing site cannot use their password from the prior site to access this system. Users must click on the “forgot password” tool to reset their password to access the new site. Users will be instructed to input the email address associated with their account. The user will then receive an email with their user identification (userid), instructions, and a link to change their password. If the user does not receive an email within 15 minutes, please check the spam or junk folders. If the user’s email address changed and the user no longer has access to it, they should send an email to the wi.spec.products@irs.gov mailbox, listing both the old and new email address and other identifying information, such as name, user name, or address. Please carefully follow the password security requirements when setting a new password for the  certification site.

 

Training Resources

Pub 4012 Volunteer Resource Guide: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdf

Form 6744 Volunteer Assistor’s Test/Retest https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6744.pdf

Pub 4491 VITA/TCE Training Guide: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491.pdf

TaxSlayer Practice Lab: Home Page - VITA/TCE Springboard (taxslayerpro.com)

Volunteer Training Resources on IRS.GOV: Volunteer Training Resources | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

Pub 5325 Fact Sheet: Partner and Volunteer Training for the Filing Season for SPEC Partners and Volunteers https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5325.pdf

 

These training resources will be helpful for you to pass your test certifications.

 

Screeners/greeters: This may be your first time accessing the Link & Learn site. If you need assistance navigating the site, send an email to vitaphitauomega@yahoo.com. 

 

Tax preparers: If you would like additional basic tax law training, there may be some virtual and/or in person sessions scheduled this month. Be on the lookout on this site and for email messages with details.

 

Once you have passed all required certification tests, please send your certificate showing that you are a certified volunteer to vitaphitauomega@yahoo.com or you may give Joelle Elzy or Ronshavius Strozier a hard copy in person.

 

IMPORTANT: It is mandatory that we have each volunteer’s certificate on file certifying that you have passed all required certification tests before you may volunteer. 

 

For Phi Tau Omega Site volunteers, we request that your certificate is received no later than 1/13/2024.

 

Thank you & Happy New Year!

 

Joelle Elzy

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Phi Tau Omega Chapter 

VITA Site Coordinator