FREE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2016

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SFHDC Earn it Keep It Save It Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program 2016

Come Volunteer with Earn it Keep it Save it & SFHDC. Show Your Community Some Love, One Tax Return at a Time.

Hurry, training starts soon.

Are you looking for a meaningful way to connect with the community? SFHDC is actively recruiting and accepting volunteers for the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! (EKS) 2016 tax season!

As a member of the EKS San Francisco County coalition, SFHDC participates as a free VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site that prepares tax returns for low to moderate income families and individuals, earning less than $53,000 a year. Our goal in 2016 is to help over 300 people with tax preparation, ensure they receive the tax refund they deserve and most importantly, help our clients avoid paying high predatory fees they would pay to have their taxes prepared somewhere else. This year we plan to operate 4 free tax sites throughout the Bayview, so we need all the assistance we can get.

By being a VITA volunteer, you will:

• Learn a valuable and useful skill. Everybody has to do his or her taxes! This is a skill you will use your whole life. FREE TRAINING is provided and you are welcome to volunteer at your level of comfort! Be a screener, a greeter, an interpreter, a tax preparer, etc., and regularly work with other volunteers who want to help people too!
• Earn a stipend, get reimbursed up to $500 for training taken on your own at an approved tax agency.
• Volunteer at multiple sites with flexible hours. This year SFHDC plans to operate 4 tax sites in the District 10 neighborhoods: 1) SFHDC, 4439 Third Street 2) Potrero Hill Neighborhood House 3) Alice Griffith Housing site and 1030 Oakdale Ave.
• Help families and individuals that really need someone they can trust to do their taxes and get their full tax refund without feeling taken advantage of or insecure about the process
• P repare your own tax return for FREE!
• See the immediate effects of your hard work - a family sees their refund amount and can’t stop smiling and thanking you!

Training

There are three training options:

• In-person training. If this is your first time volunteering with VITA, you are encouraged to attend a 3 day in-person training. During this training, you will receive valuable instruction on tax law and the tax software we use at our site. This year’s training will be held on Saturday January 9 th , 16 th , and 23 rd from 9:00am-3:00pm at Golden Gate University downtown San Francisco campus.
• Online training. If you are unable to attend the in-person trainings or are an experienced volunteer, you may choose to train and certify online prior to tax season through the IRS Link and Learn portal: https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/ . The complete online training and certification instructions are available on the EKS website: http://www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org/volunteer/training-resources/ .

• Attend on your own, an APPROVED TAX TRAINING at a reputable provider, which may include: H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax Services, etc. Contact our office for details.

Tax Site Commitment

• We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities. You can elect to be a greeter, a screener for intake, an interpreter, a tax preparer, a QSR, quality site review person.
• We ask that each volunteer commit to at least 4-6 hours per week, beginning late January through early April.

If you are interested in being a VITA volunteer with SFHDC, please contact me at: shannon@sfhdc.org , call me at 415-822-1022 ext 112 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org/volunteer and sign up. I look forward to hearing from you and please contact me with any questions.

Thanks,

Shannon Wise, SFHDC Site Coordinator

Hurry, training starts soon.