Be a VITA Volunteer for Our Community
Our volunteers are a crucial and integral part of our program. As a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) participant, you will learn to prepare income tax returns (Federal and State) free of charge for those in our community who meet the Internal Revenue Service’s VITA program criteria.
All our volunteer income preparers must certify annually at their desired/chosen level. Everyone of our volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (Ethics) training and the Intake/Interview & Quality Review training and exam.
Volunteers can choose to become either an Advanced or Military level tax preparer. All our applicants must certify at the advanced level. The Basic exam is not required prior to taking the Advanced exam.
Becoming a VITA volunteer tremendously impacts members of our community, such as seniors, non-English speakers, limited English speakers, Veterans, and low-income individuals. Having someone that is certified to to prepare taxes at no cost is a great relief to our clients.
You can volunteer two days a week for three hours each evening or just one day. Alternatively, you can participate in our virtual VITA program where you prepare returns at home.
As a first year volunteer, you will be assigned returns at the Basic Level for preparation. Second year and above individuals will prepare both Basic and Advance Level returns. those certified at the Advance Level are able to Quality Review all Basic and Advance Level Returns.
Only Military Level certified individuals will prepare Military Level returns. The Military certification is an optional specialty certification that becomes available after passing the Advanced certification. Thus, Military certified individuals can prepare returns of Basic, Advanced, returns involving Rental Property and Military returns.
Start your journey with Desert Financial and Tax Services by filling the registration form. Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you.
Choose how you get your training materials: online or via hard copies. All volunteers must submit their certificates to the Volunteer Coordinator.
Come to the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Career Center on the first day of the start of your volunteer session. Get ready to have fun and meet new people.
If you don't want to prepare taxes, you may volunteer as a greeter/screener, interpreter, or valet.
“Caring for the happiness of others, we find our own”
Make a difference peoples’ lives by becoming a VITA volunteer!
Please fill-out the form. We will contact you shortly.
Link & Learn Taxes Linking Volunteers to Quality E-Learning
Link and Learn Certification Paths for E-Learning
Link & Learn Certification Tests, Getting-Started-Job-Aid.PDF
IRS Publication 4012 – VITA Volunteer Resource Guide
IRS Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights
IRS Publication 4961 VITA – TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training
IRS Publication 4491 VITA Training Guide
IRS Publication 5088 Site Coordinator Training
IRS Publication 5101 Intake – Interview and Quality Review Training
IRS Publication 5353 Intake/Interview & Quality Review Policy
IRS Publication 5377 Practice Lab for VITA/TCE Partners and Volunteers
IRS Publication 5683, VITA/TCE Handbook for Partners and Site Coordinators
IRS Publication 6744 – VITA Volunteer Assistor’s Test-Retest
VTA 2024-02, Publication 4011 Update
VITA/TCE Quality Site
Requirement Alert
VITA Site Coordinator Corner Web Site
FACT SHEET – For Partners and Employees, Quality Site Requirements for Alternative Filing Models
IRS Publication 3676, IRS Certified Volunteers Providing Free Tax Preparation (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 17, Tax Guide 2023 (not yet available)
IRS Publication 4942 – Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
IRS Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights
IRS Publication 4836, VITA/TCE Free Tax Programs (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 4053, Your Civil Rights are Protected (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 5455- VITA Reporting Data Breaches
IRS Publication 5088, Site Coordinator Refresher Training
IRS Publication 5166, IRS Volunteer Quality Site Requirements
IRS Publication 5324, Fact Sheet Quality Site Requirements for Alternative Filing Models.pdf
Prosperity Now & The Taxpayer Opportunity Network’s Module Training Tools