- FAQS FOR VOLUNTEERS
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What type of work will I do as a VITA Volunteer?
- You will prepare simple tax returns for low-income individuals.
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Do I need tax experience to volunteer?
- No. While tax experience is helpful there is no requirement that you have had any previous experience in preparing tax returns. You will go through a series of online training events overseen by the IRS that will prepare you to complete simple tax returns and answer basic tax law questions.
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How long is the training?
- Typically the training takes 2-3 hours and is done in the computer lab on predesignated days. All of this training will be overseen by one of the VITA student site coordinators.
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Why should I volunteer for the VITA program?
- Besides helping your community you will also be receiving pro-bono hours. These pro-bono hours will satisfy Valparaiso University's School of Law's graduation requirements.
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How do I volunteer for the VITA program?
- Please complete the online volunteer form. Within 48-72 hours you should recieve an email from one of the VITA student site coordinators indicating they received your information. We will communicate to our volunteers using both email and this website. Please contact us if you do not receive an email from one of our VITA student site coordinators within 48-72 hours.
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What are the training days for the VITA program?
- Please click here for a list of the tentative training dates. You will be notified by email to remind you of the training dates in January, as well as to sign up for one of the sessions.
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What are the tax return preparation dates?
- Please click here for a list of this year's preparation dates. You will have a chance to sign up to volunteer for one or more of these dates once you have completed your training and certification.
- Volunteers typically sign up for shifts that are approximately four (4) hours long on the preparation dates.
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Will I be preparing tax returns alone?
- No. All volunteers will prepare tax returns in pairs. Once the tax return is prepared a VITA student site coordinator will check the returns for any errors before final submission.
