Volunteer with vita

Our Volunteer Greeters have the responsibility of being the first impression on our clients. These volunteers...

• Greet clients as they arrive
• Check clients in
• Explain the process of doing taxes with VITA
• Ensure they have all the necessary paperwork for their appointment

These volunteers do not answer any tax questions and minimal training is required.

Our Intake Volunteers are the folks that help clients with the paperwork VITA provides in order to accurately complete their taxes. These volunteers...

• Sit with clients and go through the paperwork
• Answer client question about the paperwork
• Help determine what kind of tax return the client has (basic or advanced) and if the return is in scope for the VITA program
• Assign taxpayers to the appropriate tax preparer

These volunteers cannot answer tax law questions without doing further training but are welcome to answer any questions about the paperwork itself. This role only requires a few hours of training.

Volunteer Interpreters are essential in ensuring our clients feel comfortable and heard during their appointments. While VITA does have access to a few languages through over-the-phone interpreters, having face-to-face interpreters creates a more hospitable and accessible environment. These volunteers...

• Sit through the tax preparation appointment with clients
• Translate questions on the paperwork
• Facilitate translation between the client and tax preparer when asking questions, discussing the return, and any other necessary dialogue for the tax appointment

These volunteers would need minimal training. We are urgently seeking interpreter volunteers for the 2026 tax season (particularly Spanish). Please reach out with any questions!

Volunteer Tax Preparers do the initial tax preparation. There are two types: basic and advanced. These volunteers...

• Interview the client and ask clarifying questions based on intake paperwork
• Prepare the initial tax return if all information is correct and available
• Answer client questions on taxes or help them find the answers
• Determine if return is in scope for the VITA program

Training for tax preparers takes a few weeks.

Volunteer Quality Reviewers do the final review of each tax return. These volunteers...

• Do a second interview with the client to ensure accuracy of information
• Review each part of the completed tax return and fix any mistakes
• Print the reviewed return and go over final numbers with the client
• Answer client questions and explain the results of the tax return

Quality Reviewers do the same training as volunteer tax preparers. Training takes a few weeks to complete.