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Volunteer with Community Tax Centers
LAST CHANCE TO BE TRAINED TO SERVE AS A TAX PREP VOLUNTEER!
Last trainings for the 2012 Tax Season January 21, 23, and 28.
See details and sign up below.
Community Tax Centers, a program of Foundation Communities, provides free income tax preparation services to Austin’s low-income families and individuals. By helping people claim all of the tax credits for which they are eligible, volunteers can give many of the working poor in our community a chance to build a successful financial future.
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Ways You Can Volunteer
Apply to Volunteer
Training
2011 Tax Center Locations
Volunteers Speak Out!
Ways You Can Volunteer
There are three volunteer positions with the Community Tax Centers:
- Volunteer Tax Preparer
- Client Liaison
- Translator
A Volunteer Preparer:
• Attends up to 10 hours of training to learn how to prepare basic tax returns,
• Takes a test to be certified by IRS as a volunteer tax preparer,
• Talks with clients to gather necessary information to prepare a complete and accurate tax return,
• Prepares tax returns on a computer using TaxWise software,
• Explains the finished tax return to the client and answers question,
• Asks the tax center manager or volunteer coordinator if he/she has questions about the volunteer experience, and
• Is comfortable: using Windows-based software, working with people from all walks of life, and volunteering in a fast-paced environment.
A Client Liaison:
• Attends a 2-hour training class,
• Welcome clients to the tax center,
• Reviews and organizes client documents, and
• Talks with clients to gather necessary information to prepare their tax return.
A Translator:
• Attends an orientation session,
• Is not required to have any tax law knowledge, and
• Uses existing language skills to help clients understand the tax filing process (at least 20% of our clients speak only Spanish).
Time Requirements for all volunteers: From January to April, volunteers commit to at least one 3 hour shift per week or at least 36 hours total.
Apply to Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Community Tax Centers program. Once you are ready to sign up to volunteer you can click on the following link to register as a volunteer.
Once your application has been approved you will be able to sign up for trainings.
2011-2012 Training Descriptions
2012 Training Schedule – New Volunteers
New Volunteer Training (12 Hours Total)
New volunteers will attend 12 hours of training. Three 4-hour sessions cover the basics of tax law and the TaxWise software we use at the Community Tax Centers. At the end of the 12 hours, you will be familiar with the 1040 tax form, know how to determine filing status and dependents, and understand income, tax deductions, and tax credits. Volunteers must commit to attending training on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday consecutively – please see schedule for dates.
Date Day Class Type Time Location
1/23, 1/24 & 1/25 Mon, Tue & Wed New Volunteer Training 5:30pm-9:30 Skyline Training Room
Accelerated New Volunteer Training (8 Hours Total)
New Volunteers that thrive in fast paced environments and are comfortable and confident with laptops and PC’s may attend this training. Some prior experience with tax preparation (even your own) or completion of tax courses is highly recommended. This 8 hour session will cover the basics of tax law and the TaxWise software we use at the Community Tax Centers at a much faster pace. At the end of the 8 hours, you will be familiar with the 1040 tax form, know how to determine filing status and dependents, and understand income, tax deductions, and tax credits.
Date Day Class Type Time Location
1/21/2012 Saturday Accelerated New Volunteer Training 9:00am-5:30 Skyline Training Room
1/28/2012 Saturday Accelerated New Volunteer Training 9:00am-5:30 Skyline Training Room
W7 Applications for ITIN (2 Hours)
Learn the proper way to fill out a W7 application so clients can obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Our clients are depending on us to complete the form correctly! We strongly encourage everyone to take this training, including returning volunteers.
Date Day Class Type Time Location
1/26/2012 Thursday W7 Training 11:30am-1:30pm Skyline Terrace Training Room
Training for Client Liaisons and Translators (2 Hours)
Client Liaisons and translators set the tone for a client’s experience at a Community Tax Center and are critical to helping the tax preparation process run smoothly. Attend this training to learn how to do these important jobs and what’s new for the tax season. This training is for new and returning client liaisons and translators. We also encourage new tax preparation volunteers to attend this training as all well.
Date Day Class Type Time Location
1/24/2012 Tuesday Client Liaison and Translator 6:00-8:00pm Goodwill Community Center
Test Support Session (Optional)
We will provide open lab time for any volunteer that would like to come to our computer lab to take the test. We will not be able to give you the answers to the test, but we will help guide you to a passing score. Please make sure you sign up and reserve a space.
Date Day Class Type Time Location
1/26/2012 Thursday Testing Session 5:00pm-9:00 Skyline Training Room
1/31/2012 Tuesday Testing Session 5:00pm-9:00 Skyline Training Room
Goodwill Community Center is location at IH35 and 183
Skyline Training Room is located at Banister and Ben White
Community Financial Center is located near Westgate and Stassney
Specific directions will be sent prior to the training you are scheduled to attend.
**Please note that you must register in advance for ALL Community Tax Centers trainings.**
Space is limited - reserve your spot today.
If you have questions about how to sign up for training please contact:
Jackie Blair Lisa Sciorilli
Manager of Volunteer Programs Volunteer Coordinator
Jackie.blair@foundcom.org lisa.sciorilli@foundcom.org
2012 Community Tax Center Locations
For a full list of Tax Center times, please see our Community Tax Center Locations and Schedule sheet.
2012 Community Tax Center Locations |
|
1. |
Community Financial Center2600 W. Stassney LnAustin, TX 78745Capital Metro Bus 311 and 338 |
2. |
Goodwill Community Center1015 Norwood Park BlvdAustin, TX 78753Capital Metro Bus 7, 161, 323, 325 |
3. |
Workforce Solutions6505 Airport BlvdAustin, TX 78752Capital Metro Bus 7, 10, 300, 320, 350 |
4. |
St. John's Community Center
|
5. |
AISD Parent Support OfficeAllen Elementary School4900 Gonzales StAustin, TX 78702Capital Metro Bus 4 |
6. |
Montopolis Recreation Center1200 Montopolis DrAustin, TX 78741Capital Metro Bus 4, 350 |
7. |
Round Rock Public Library216 E. Main StRound Rock, TX 78664 |
8. |
South Rural Community Center3518 FM 973 SDel Valle, TX 78617Capital Metro Bus 350 |
9. |
Workforce Solutions of Bastrop County
|
Volunteers Speak Out!
"It was intimidating at first and taxes don't jump out to be the most fun experience, but the experience, the feeling, the sheer awesomeness is unparalleled!
"The best way to help yourself is to help others. Nowhere is that seen or felt better than at Community Tax Centers."
"These days, I tend to lose faith in humanity; it truly saddens me. What I see happening at Community Tax Centers helps restore my faith in people. Maybe that's what keeps me coming back each year."
UT Students bring in millions...
Professor Brian Lendecky and the McCombs school of Business provide amazing support in a partnership between Foundation Communities and The University of Texas
Learn how UT accounting students helped bring millions in refunds to working tax payers in 2009.
◊ For a better understanding of the Community Tax Center process, please watch this 10-minute video. ◊
Help us Help Others
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